Activist group GetUp! has accepted more than $200,000 in donations from organisations that seek the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories, but says the money comes with no strings attached.
The funds principally have come from the Norman Rothfield Peace and Justice Fund, which donated $15,120 to GetUp! this year, $152,435 last year and $53,975 in 2014-15.
The fund was established by the family of Australian activist Norman Rothfield, whose son Robin is also a member of Labor for Refugees, and told The Australianyesterday that he was “proud to support GetUp!”.
“My father left a substantial sum in his will and we make regular donations to GetUp!,” he said. “Our main concern is the asylum-seekers, and refugees. We gave the money to help GetUp! launch a campaign at the last election, especially in (Immigration Minister) Peter Dutton’s seat.
Read the full article by Caroline Overington at The Australian.
[Letter in The Australia in reply 26/11/16 :
Israeli beneficiary
I refer to “Pro-Palestinian cash channelled to GetUp!” (22/11). It states one particular source of this revenue. The principal beneficiary of this revenue source is the New Israel Fund in Israel, which assists grantees working for human rights and causes aimed at helping the underprivileged. The NIF believes in a two-state solution which has the support of 59 per cent of Israelis. The two-state solution has the support of 80-90 per cent of the defence and security establishment which argues that Israel’s security will be better served behind the 1967 borders rather than the present borders.
The term “pro-Palestinian cash” is misleading. The funds donated to GetUp! by the aforementioned source are separate from those donated to NIF and have been for the promotion of issues related to refugees and climate change.