JNF President Jeffrey E. Levine, CEO Russell F. Robinson,
Board Chairman Ronald S. Lauder, and Leonard G. Attman
outside the Ronald S. Lauder JNF House in Manhattan, December 2016 (Photo: Jewish National Fund)
Last weekend, the Jewish National Fund, which exists to “redeem” the land of Israel for Jews, moved forward on a plan to buy Palestinian lands that surround illegal Jewish settlements on the West Bank so as to expand the settlements, give them green spaces and room to develop.
The move has been hammered by liberal Zionist organizations, the Reform Jewish movement, one of the JNF’s own board members,and even the State Department as a threat to the “two-state solution.” Americans for Peace Now says the policy will lead to “perpetual occupation and annexation.” The JNF says what’s the big deal, it has always operated in the West Bank! “Throughout the years and till this very day, KKL-JNF [Keren Kayemet Le’Israel] has been operating in all parts of t