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Unrest on U.S. College Campuses: A Closer Look at the Funding Sources & the Expansion of Anti-Israel Protests

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Unrest on U.S. College Campuses: A Closer Look at the Funding Sources & the Expansion of Anti-Israel Protests

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Over the past week, a wave of vehemently anti-Israel and pro-Hamas protests has swept across prominent U.S. college campuses, starting with a significant takeover at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus. This series of events has ignited a string of similar anti-Semitic protests at other prestigious institutions including Harvard, Yale, University of California, Berkeley, Ohio State University, and Emory University. According to a report that appeared on Friday in The New York Post, these protests are not isolated incidents but appear to be part of a coordinated effort by branches of the organization Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a group reportedly funded by a network of nonprofits connected to prominent billionaire investor George Soros.

The initial protest that captured national attention began last week at Columbia University when students erected a tent city on the campus lawn. As was noted in the Post report, this demonstration quickly inspired similar actions at various universities across the country, forming what some are calling “copycat tent cities.” The pattern of these protests and their spread suggest a high level of organization and resources.

Investigations into the funding sources behind these protests reveal a complex network of financial support. The SJP, which is at the forefront of these campus activities, is reportedly linked to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR). Indicated in the Post report was that this group not only supports but actively funds individuals they term as “fellows,” who are tasked with organizing anti-Israel campaigns that align with the objectives of Palestinian organizations.

These fellows are reportedly compensated for their efforts, with community-based fellows receiving up to $7,800 and campus-based fellows receiving between $2,880 and $3,660. As was noted in the Post report, their role involves dedicating around eight hours a week to organize and lead various campaigns. Training provided to these individuals emphasizes empowerment and action, with a clear goal to “rise up, to revolution.”

Further scrutiny reveals that USCPR has received significant financial support from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, totaling at least $300,000 since 2017. In addition to Soros’ contributions, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has also donated at least $355,000 since 2019, the Post report said. These contributions call attention to the level of backing that enables the sustained organization and execution of these protests.

At some institutions, these pro-Hamas protests have led to clashes with police, escalating tensions not only within campus bounds but in broader community interactions. Revealed in the Post report was that the presence of paid activists among the student demonstrators raises questions about the influence of external funding on student activism and the broader political implications of such movements.

The rapid expansion of these anti-Israel protests and their organized nature, supported by significant financial resources from high-profile donors, suggest a deeply interconnected network of influence aimed at shaping discourse and policy on U.S. campuses regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The implications of this phenomenon are complex, affecting student life, university policies, and broader political dialogues.

Three individuals, known as “fellows” associated with the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), have been pivotal in these movements, drawing significant attention due to their roles and the financial backing reportedly provided by entities linked to George Soros, as per the information provided in the Post report.

Nidaa Lafi, a former president of the University of Texas Students for Justice in Palestine, was recently observed delivering an emotionally charged address at an encampment at UT Dallas. Her speech focused on calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. The Post reported that Lafi, who graduated last year with a degree in global business, is presently pursuing law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Her activism is not confined to campus grounds; earlier in January, she made headlines when detained for obstructing President Biden’s motorcade during his visit to Dallas for the funeral of her former employer, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Another notable figure in these blatantly anti-Semitic protests is Craig Birckhead-Morton, a USCPR fellow at Yale University. His recent arrest for first-degree trespassing came as a result of Yalies4Palestine’s occupation of Yale’s Beinecke Plaza, an event that garnered coverage from the Yale Daily News, according to the information contained in the Post report. Following his release, Birckhead-Morton was seen addressing a sit-in in New Haven, continuing his advocacy despite the legal challenges. His political engagement also includes a previous internship with Maryland Representative John Sarbanes.

The most high-profile of these pro-Hamas activists is Malak Afaneh, co-president of the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine. Afaneh has been active at various anti-Israel protests on campus, becoming particularly noted for an incident where she recently disrupted a dinner at the law school dean’s residence, vocalizing anti-Israel slogans, as was previously reported in The Jewish Voice. According to the Post, this event escalated when she accused the dean’s wife of assault following a request to leave the event. Afaneh’s confrontational style has placed her at the center of media attention, highlighting her role in the protest movements.

Last Wednesday, Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus became the center of a significant protest titled the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” According to the information in the Post report, this action was organized by three groups—Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and Within Our Lifetime. The Post also noted that the encampment featured students sleeping in tents purchased from Amazon and partaking in various provisions including pizza deliveries, Dunkin’ coffee, $12.50 sandwiches from Pret a Manger, organic tortilla chips, and $10 rotisserie chickens.

The operation and sustenance of the encampment appear to be well-funded, with financial analyses indicating that all three groups have received monetary support from sources linked to George Soros. Additionally, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, known for its philanthropic contributions to “sustainable development” and “peace-building,” has also provided funding to JVP. The Post report revealed that this fund is chaired by Joseph Pierson and includes notable figures such as David Rockefeller Jr., a descendant of the prominent Rockefeller oil dynasty.

Moreover, Felice Gelman, a retired Wall Street banker with a history of supporting pro-Palestinian causes, has played a significant role in funding the activities of SJP, JVP, and Within Our Lifetime, the Post added. Her contributions signify a robust financial network backing the groups involved in the encampment.

Both SJP and JVP have faced controversies at Columbia University. In November, the university expelled both groups citing reasons related to “threatening rhetoric and intimidation.” The information in the Post report also explained that this expulsion followed a statement by JVP on its website, which attributed the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis to “Israeli apartheid and occupation — and United States complicity in that oppression.” SJP, meanwhile, characterized the same terrorist strike as “a historic win.”

A recent analysis has shed light on the complex financial pathways through which George Soros and Felice Gelman’s funding reaches student activists, illuminating a network of nonprofits designed to somewhat obscure the origins of these contributions. The report in the Post said that this financial infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting various protests and anti-Israel movements on campuses such as Columbia University, highlighting a sophisticated system of fiscal support that underpins the hate filled activism.

George Soros has channeled billions into his Open Society Foundations, now overseen by his son, Alexander Soros. Alexander’s prominence in this role is notable given his connections; he is partnered with Huma Abedin, a close aide to Hillary Clinton and estranged wife of Anthony Weiner, the Post report revealed. This layer of personal connections calls attention to the intertwined nature of political, social, and personal networks in the realms of philanthropy and activism.

The Open Society Foundations have allocated substantial sums, exceeding $20 million, to the Tides Foundation. Known as a “fiscal sponsor,” the Post reported that the Tides functions as a crucial intermediary, disbursing funds to smaller, often more directly activist-oriented groups. Highlighted in the Post report was that this method of funding is significant as it allows for larger philanthropic organizations to support grassroots activities without direct transactions, thereby maintaining a degree of separation that can be strategic for both donor and recipient.

Among the beneficiaries of this funding stream is Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), which received approximately $650,000 from the Open Society between 2017 and 2022. Detailed in the Post report was that JVP, advised by radically left-wing and anti-Israel figures such as academic Noam Chomsky and feminist author Naomi Klein, has been notably active in protests, particularly those at Columbia University. The organization’s involvement in campus activism took a contentious turn when one of its student members was expelled for participating in an event featuring the leader of a proscribed terrorist organization, the Post report added.

Further illustrating the breadth of Soros’s influence, his foundations have donated $132,000 to the Westchester People’s Action Coalition Foundation (WESPAC). Originally established in 1974 to address civil rights issues and oppose the Vietnam War, WESPAC has evolved to become a significant supporter of anti-Israel groups, including Within Our Lifetime and Students for Justice in Palestine, the Post report revealed. This funding reflects a shift from WESPAC’s historical focus towards more current geopolitical issues, aligning with a broader narrative of supporting progressive causes on a global scale.

One notable example in the funding landscape is the involvement of the Sparkplug Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit that has played a significant role in funding SJP.

The Sparkplug Foundation is run by Felice Gelman and her husband, Yoram Gelman. In 2022, the couple directed a $20,000 donation to SJP through the Westchester People’s Action Coalition Foundation (WESPAC), as detailed in public filings, according to the Post report. This method of funding through another established nonprofit is not uncommon in the realm of philanthropy, where donors often prefer to maintain a level of discretion or leverage the established networks of existing organizations.

Felice Gelman’s involvement with WESPAC’s committee for Justice and Peace in the Middle East dates back to 2009, a period during which she was invited to Gaza by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), according to the information provided in the Post report. UNRWA itself has been a controversial entity, often criticized for its support of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Gelman’s engagement in these regions and issues underlines her deep involvement in and commitment to these causes.’

Beyond her direct anti-Israel activism, Gelman also holds positions on the boards of several organizations that align with her views. The report in the Post said that these include the Bard Lifetime Learning Institute, an extension of the notably progressive Bard College, and the Jenin Freedom Theatre located in the Jenin refugee camp. These affiliations further cement her active participation in initiatives designed to ultimately destroy Israel.

Under the presidency of Howard Horowitz, who shifted his focus to Palestinian rights after living in Israel, WESPAC has extended its support not only to SJP but also to other groups such as Within Our Lifetime. The Post report mentioned that Horowitz, a former Orthodox Jew and a member of the New York chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), has openly embraced the anti-Israel cause, which is reflected in the organization’s funding decisions.

An interesting aspect of this funding network is the operational approach of Within Our Lifetime, which, by not registering as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, utilizes a legal loophole that allows it to withhold financial disclosures typically required of nonprofits, the Post explained.  This lack of transparency raises questions about the extent and impact of financial contributions to such groups.

 

WESPAC ‘s fiscal sponsorship generally involves established nonprofits offering their legal and tax-exempt status to smaller groups or projects, facilitating the receipt of funds without the smaller entity needing its own nonprofit status, as was reported by the Post.

In the wake of reports and inquiries concerning the funding of activism, particularly those that may influence the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Open Society Foundations issued a statement to clarify and defend their position. Indicated in the Post report was that the spokesperson emphasized that the foundation has a long-standing commitment to combating all forms of racism and hate, including anti-Semitism and islamophobia. They highlighted that their funding activities are broad and inclusive, supDonatebalance of natureporting groups that advocate for both Palestinian and Israeli rights, as well as seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

Open Society Foundations also stressed that their financial contributions are transparent, publicly disclosed on their website, and fully compliant with U.S. laws, according to the information in the Post report.

The narrative around the funding and support of these anti-Israel activities is not fully balanced by the silence of other groups involved. After the story was published, other organizations besides Open Society Foundations did not provide comments or clarifications, leaving certain aspects of the funding and organizational structure less transparent to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

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