JNF and the Greens
Re: The Greens’ Anti- Israel Agenda, Josh Cooper, July 27. The Jewish National Fund ( JNF) is a non- profit organization established at the end of the 19th century as part of the Zionist movement. Its major goal was to purchase land from local landowners for the settlement of Jews only. Until the early 1960s, the JNF managed its own land holdings. In 1960, it signed a treaty with t he state of Israel whereby it agreed to place its land holdings which comprised 13 per cent of all of Israel lands, without transferring title, under the administration of the Israel Lands Administration and its governing body.
Viewing itself as a custodian of land for the Jewish people, the JNF incorporated into the treaty with the state of Israel a further and highly controversial condition: the Israel Lands Administration would be allowed to lease JNF land to Jewish people only, whether to those living in Israel or residing abroad.
The prohibition on Arab Israelis to buy or lease land in certain areas that were designated for Jews is discriminatory and impermissible. The JNF’s policies and practices violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Green Party should be applauded and supported for debating a motion to revoke the char- itable status of the JNF in Canada. Khaled Mouammar, Richmond Hill, Ont. Elizabeth May throws red meat to the anti- Semites of her Green Party by entertaining two resolutions at their upcoming convention earmarked at harming Israel and the Jewish National Fund Canada. The call for boycott, investments and sanctions ( BDS) against Israel is but a camouflage of darker feelings and motives.
The Jewish National Fund ( JNF) has been one of the earliest organizations on the world scene that appreciated the importance of the environment and the green that inhabits it. By engaging in this type of activity, the Green Party is doing much greater harm to the environment by polluting it with poison than its policies to keep it clean. Sam Mitnick, Cote St. Luc, Que. BDS is one of the anti- Semitic movements pledged to destroy the state of Israel. It has nothing to do with supposed injustices done to the Arabs. The Green Party is supposed to care about the environment and preserving the earth. How can its members try to take away the charitable status of the JNF, the most successful ecological organization in the world? Israel is the only country that left the 20th century with more trees than 100 years before. Why are they not applauding this unique achievement? I am left with the impression that racism is more their platform than being “green.” As a Canadian, I am disgusted. Len Bennett, Ottawa.