Israel Affinity Organizations & Businesses Received Millions in Forgivable PPP Loans

Israel Affinity Organizations & Businesses Received Millions in Forgivable PPP Loans

Israelis stand in front of a branch of the Israeli Bank “Bank Leumi” in Netanya, Feb. 18, 2014. Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank has included several Israeli banks on a list of companies who are ethically questionable for investment. (WRMEA)

Vast numbers of American small businesses found their banks would not return phone calls or process loans. But a number of organizations that advocate for Israel received substantial support.

More than 1,000 Jewish organizations, most of whom (maybe all) advocate for Israel, received federal forgivable loans totaling approximately $540 million to $1.3 billion.” 

Two reports below:

By Grant F. Smith, reposted from Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

Under strong pressure from Congress, on July 6, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration, after consultation with the U.S. Department of Treasury, disclosed information about 4.9 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

The loans were intended to provide relief to U.S. businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies applying through their banks for these Small Business Administration loans had to certify the money was “necessary to support the ongoing operations.”

PPP loan funds spent to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent or utilities are eligible for complete forgiveness. Vast numbers of American small businesses found their banks would not return phone calls or process loans. But a number of nonprofit organizations identified in the database of the book “Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America” as being heavily involved in advancing Israel from within the U.S. received substantial support.

 

PPP Loan Amount Recipient Activities
$150,000-
350,000
Jewish Institute for National Security of America –  JINSA Sends U.S. military and police to Israel for training.
$350,000-1 million Zionist Organization
of America – ZOA
Lobbies Congress on behalf of Israel. Ordered to register seven times as an Israeli foreign agent.
$2-5 million Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Builds recreational facilities on IDF bases in Israel.
$1-2 million Israel Emergency
Alliance
Promotes Israel on campus and urges the public to buy Israeli goods. Portrays Israel as a perpetually seeking peace (“Peace takes Two” program) against Palestinian “intransigence.”
$1-2 million Israeli American Council Organization launched in 2007 funded by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, mobilizes the estimated half-million Israeli Americans residing in the U.S. to be more active on behalf of Israel.
$350,000-1 million Israel on Campus Coalition Creates and mobilizes pro-Israel groups on American campuses.
$2-5 million Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth Leisrael) Inc. Acquired and developed land for Jewish settlement. Tree planting.
$1-2 million American Society for Technion-Israel
Institute for Technology, Inc
Raises funds for Israel’s MIT, which has been credibly alleged to perform work on Israel’s nuclear weapons program.

Source: Small Business Administration loans database, $150,000 or more.

Branches of two Israeli banks heavily involved in occupied West Bank development participated in the PPP program. Bank Leumi originated 423 PPP loans and lent between a quarter to a half billion dollars under the program while Bank Hapoalim originated seven loans.

Among Leumi’s PPP loans were two projects of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. Energix EPC US LLC is a subsidiary of Energix Renewable Energies which builds power plants to serve Israeli customers, which operate in the Israeli occupied West Bank and Golan Heights. Energix received $2-5 million in PPP loans. Oran Safety Glass, which makes bullet-proof glass and paid millions in fines after delivering substandard products to the US Army, received $1-2 million.


Grant F. Smith is the director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, DC. Smith’s latest book, The Israel Lobby Enters State Government, is now on sale at Middle East Books and More.


The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reports that “More than 1,000 Jewish organizations received federal coronavirus relief loans totaling approximately $540 million to $1.3 billion.”

Most, perhaps all, of the organizations support and/or advocate for Israel.

JTA reports: “The loans were made as part of the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided money for payroll and other expenses from a $660 billion relief fund.”

According to JTA, “At least seven Jewish organizations received loans between $5 million and $10 million, according to the Neiss analysis. All but one are headquartered in the New York metropolitan area. They are:

  • The Anti-Defamation League
  • The Orthodox Union, an umbrella Orthodox Jewish organization
  • The Union for Reform Judaism, an umbrella Reform Jewish organization
  • The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, a communal fundraising body
  • The Yeshivah of Flatbush, a New York City Jewish day school
  • The Abraham Joshua Heschel School, a New York City Jewish day school
  • United Hebrew, a home for the aged in New Rochelle, New York

Among the other 1,100 or so Jewish groups that received loans were hundreds of synagogues, day schools, community centers and Jewish federations. Almost half received loans under $350,000. 70 Faces Media, the parent company of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, also received a loan.

 

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