Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Architect of Ben & Jerry’s Israel Boycott Accused of ‘Self-Dealing’ by Legal Watchdog
Error: Contact form not found.
by Algemeiner Staff
A refrigerator bearing the Ben & Jerry’s logo is seen at a food store in the Jewish settlement of Efrat in the West Bank July 20, 2021. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
The head of Ben & Jerry’s board of directors and a leading force behind the ice cream giant’s boycott of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem has been charged by a watchdog group with “self-dealing,” after $100,000 in company donations were reportedly granted to an NGO of which she is the only paid employee.
Anuradha Mittal, chair of the Ben & Jerry’s board, is also executive director of the Oakland Institute, a left-wing think tank dealing with land reform, the New York Post reported.
According to a complaint by the right-leaning National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), between 2017-2018, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation gave $104,000 in grants to the Oakland Institute. During the same period, Mittal was paid $156,000 for her work with the Institute.
The Post reported that the Institute used part of the Ben & Jerry’s grant to fund projects including one it described as “a bold multimedia project on land rights to mark 50 years since the Six-Day War and Israel’s occupation,” highlighting “marginalization and struggle.”
Grants also went to the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, which received $3,000 from the Foundation, and which has lost EU funding due to its refusal to pledge that none of its funds will go to terrorist groups.
Mittal’s possible malfeasance was alleged by the Virginia-based NLPC based on IRS records.
The complaint made by the Center states, “It is our contention that this is a possible violation of self-dealing as Mittal is considered a disqualified person under IRS rules.”
Mittal has given no direct comment about the complaint, but has said that “false accusations” have been made about the Oakland Institute and the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.
