Greens remove reference to Jewish group in new policy to revoke status of charities that violate human rights

At its party convention in Ottawa Saturday, the Green Party of Canada passed a resolution to add to its policies the revocation of charitable status from organizations complicit in international rights violations.

A last-minute kerfuffle on the convention floor resulted in an amendment, supported by leader Elizabeth May, to broaden what was originally a motion to specifically revoke charitable status from the Jewish National Fund.

Despite accusations that the motion was reduced to a “mere platitude” and the JNF had bullied May into supporting a “watered-down” version of the resolution, other Greens suggested it was strengthened since more organizations’ practices could be examined.

May had told the National Post in June the original motion contained factual errors and she did not support it.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

May, despite appearing in a list of “sponsors” of the resolution, had said she would try to be as persuasive as possible in asking party members to vote it down.

The submitter of the resolution, Corey Levine, said the JNF violates international human rights law and the resolution isn’t without precedent: the Green Parties of England and Wales and Scotland adopted similar resolutions.

But another member speaking out against the policy characterized it this way: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

The JNF’s Canada branch has held charitable status since 1967. It posted revenues of $29 million in 2014, according to the Canada Revenue Agency.

The organization, whose supporters have been levying a robust email campaign against the Greens, says it collects money to use for development projects in Israel, including parks and community centres.

But the original Green resolution alleged the JNF is complicit in the dispossession of land from Palestinians, including building projects on occupied territory and not allowing the sale or lease of land to non-Jewish people.

The CEO of JNF Canada, Josh Cooper, defended the organization in June saying it is recognized as an NGO by the UN and its projects are open to all Israeli citizens, whatever their religion.

Another resolution being voted on Sunday morning could result in even stronger backlash if adopted.

It would add support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel to the Green policy book.

If it passes, it will put the Green Party at odds with a House of Commons motion from earlier this year.

In February, the House passed a Conservative motion 229-to-51, with strong Liberal support, condemning the “demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel” and any actions by Canadian groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement.

May wasn’t in Ottawa the day the motion passed but has said she wouldn’t have voted in favour because of freedom of speech concerns.