US Congress targets Israeli leftwing NGOs in new subpoena threat

Channel 14 reporter Tamir Morag reports today (Sunday) that Congress is looking into issuing subpoenas to heads of Israeli leftwing NGOs which received money from the State Department, on suspicion the money was used to meddle in internal Israeli politics, specifically the fight over the judicial reform.

According to Morag:

"As previously reported, the NGOs—including the Movement for Quality Government and Blue and White Future—received letters in March from the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees, demanding that by April 9 they submit detailed documents regarding their activities and financial flows, including transcripts of text messages.

"This followed suspicions that they received direct or indirect funding from the Biden administration to interfere in Israeli politics—a move that, under U.S. law, may constitute illegal subversion of the democratic order of a U.S. ally.

"We can now report that Congress is dissatisfied with the documents submitted by at least some of the NGOs, viewing the material as partial and insufficient in addressing the concerns raised. As a result, a second letter has been drafted, demanding the immediate completion of the missing documentation. Additionally, work has begun on issuing subpoenas for the heads of these NGOs to testify before Congress.

"Although this procedure is officially termed “testimony,” in practice it amounts to a full-fledged investigation—a highly unpleasant situation for those under scrutiny.

"Bottom line: Congress was in recess, creating the impression that the matter had stalled, but the investigation is ongoing and further developments are expected soon."