GOP Senators Demand IRS Probe of Anti-Israel Groups on College Campuses

Senate Republicans are calling for an investigation into the tax-exempt status of organizations that have supported anti-Israel demonstrations at dozens of universities, amid concerns that the backlash over President Biden's stance on Israel could split the vote and enable Trump to win the November election.

College students in Michigan, a swing state, expressed concerns that the backlash over President Biden's stance on Israel could alienate voters and jeopardize his chances of winning the November election. They highlighted fears that the issue could split the vote and enable former President Trump to regain power.

Amid these concerns, Senate Republicans have demanded an investigation into the tax-exempt status of several organizations that have supported various anti-Israel and antisemitic protests at universities across the country, including Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation (AJP), the Tides Foundation, and the Westchester Peace Action Committee Foundation (WESPAC).

American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), a 501(c)(3) that is fiscally sponsored by AJP, denied any "corporate relationship" with student groups and maintained that it does not direct their activities. However, it acknowledged issuing small grants to support AMP's educational mission.

In a letter to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, Senator Joni Ernst cited a lawsuit alleging that AJP is a "propaganda division in the United States" for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group. She further claimed that AJP established National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) to control hundreds of chapters at schools throughout the U.S.

NSJP has been involved in protests across the country, some of which have included illegal activity such as the creation of encampments and the taking over of buildings. Antisemitic language and intimidation have also been reported at these demonstrations.

The 16 Republican senators who signed the letter expressed concern that the groups may have used their tax-exempt status to support activities that violate federal law, including providing support to terrorist organizations. They cited the lawsuit's claim that AJP and NSJP had prior knowledge of the October 2021 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel.

The letter also noted that Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is investigating whether AJP has used funds for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefiting or providing support to terrorist organizations.

Since April 2022, over 2,200 people have been arrested or detained during anti-Israel protests on at least 49 college campuses in 26 states. These demonstrations have raised concerns about the potential impact on campus climate and the safety of Jewish students.

The GOP senators' demand for an IRS investigation into these anti-Israel groups highlights the growing political tensions surrounding the issue, particularly among young voters in swing states like Michigan. It remains to be seen whether the backlash over Biden's stance on Israel will ultimately affect the outcome of the November election.