-Caveat Lector- w w w . h a a r e t z d a i l y . c o m http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=256722 &contrassID=1&subContrassID=3&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y Report: U.S. donors to Sharon allegedly violated U.S. tax law
WASHINGTON - U.S. organizations that donated money to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's election campaign for leadership of the Likud in 1999 allegedly contravened American tax laws, saying they were financing academic studies and cultural exchanges, which are exempt from tax under U.S. law. According to a report Monday in The Washington Post, the American entities named by the Israeli State Comptroller in his report on illegal contributions to Sharon are registered in the United States as organizations with the goal of aiding academic and cultural projects in Israel. As charitable organizations, they are exempt from taxes. U.S. regulations, however, stipulate that contributions by tax-exempt organizations to political parties or candidates both in the United States and abroad cannot be considered tax-exempt donations and require an amendment of the organizations' status. The organizations in question are the American and Israel Research and Friendship Foundation Inc. (AIRFF) and the College for National Studies Inc. (CNS). In 1999, the AIRFF, the declared purpose of which is to afford grants to students, received donations totaling some $1.5 million, but transferred money for only one cause in Israel - $815,000 went to Annex Research Ltd., the company behind Sharon's campaign for the leadership of the Likud that year. The remainder of the money went on travel expenses and to public relations and political consultants Kalman Gayer, Jay Warsaw and Arthur Finkelstein. The CNS, the stated purpose of which is to provide aid to the Ben-Eliezer College in Israel, noted in a report submitted to the U.S. tax authorities that the money it had transferred to Israel had gone to causes related to polls and surveys for Sharon. The IRS refused to comment on The Washington Post Report, but U.S. tax experts said that the material in the hands of the authorities was a basis for reviewing the tax- exempt status of the two funds. Baruch Kra adds: The police investigations into allegations concerning serious acts of corruption in the Likud began with much fanfare on the part of Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein; till now, however, the inquiries have produced just three indictments against three small-fry. Despite the fact that both the State Prosecution and the police believe that far more serious acts of corruption were committed during all stages of the Likud primaries, they are having a hard time translating these assumptions into well- grounded suspicions. The Justice Ministry's hesitancy is hampering the police. On publication of complaints concerning attempted bribes that were lodged by several Likud primaries candidates who failed to make it onto the party's Knesset list, Rubinstein ordered an investigation into all allegations, to be completed before election day. The police efficiently played its part, but the Justice Ministry did not display the same degree of competence. While the State Prosecution has filed three indictments, it has not even come to a decision on the matter of former deputy minister Naomi Blumenthal. "If there are no grounds for an indictment, they should close the file," a police officer said. "And if there are grounds, they should [file an indictment] with the expedience the attorney general demanded of us. Naomi Blumenthal is indeed a politician, but that doesn't mean that her case has to be handled more delicately and slowly." After the elections, the police will continue to investigate the legitimacy of the pre-primaries activities of various Likud elements, as well as if and how organized crime figures managed to infiltrate into the party. Among other issues to be investigated is the nature of the connection between Sharon's son, Omri, and former convict Shlomi Oz. The two banded together to recruit hundreds of individuals to the Likud and managed to get a few dozen representatives onto the party's Central Committee. Police sources say the allegations are weighty ones, but are difficult to prove. The attorney general's forgiving attitude when it comes to offenses committed by politicians and their emissaries, they add, grossly undermines the motivation of the investigators. By Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz Correspondent /hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=256722 close window Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
