House Republicans have opened a formal investigation into whether the Biden administration used U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund protests in Israel in 2023 aimed at undermining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Brian Mast (R-FL) sent official letters to six non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanding detailed records of their funding sources and protest-related activities. The organizations have been given until April 9 to respond.
Accusations of Political Meddling
The investigation centers on the wave of demonstrations that swept Israel in 2023, sparked by proposed judicial reforms. While critics labeled the reforms “anti-democratic,” supporters argued they were essential for rebalancing power between Israel’s judiciary and elected officials.
“If taxpayer money was used to fuel foreign protests against a democratic ally, that’s not just misuse—it’s sabotage,” said Rep. Brian Mast, a decorated Army veteran and vocal Israel ally.
The letters accuse the Biden administration of covertly funding activist groups that played a key role in organizing protests, with the intent of pressuring Netanyahu’s government and shaping Israeli policy from abroad.
U.S. Funding Under Scrutiny
The inquiry is examining whether U.S. government grants—intended for civic or humanitarian purposes—were funneled into organizations that engaged in political activism inside Israel. This includes alleged involvement in protests, organizing logistics, and media campaigns opposing the judicial reform agenda.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan emphasized the gravity of the issue:
“The American people have a right to know if their government interfered in the democratic processes of one of our closest allies.”
This isn’t the first time a U.S. administration has been accused of meddling in Israeli politics. A 2016 Senate investigation found that State Department funds were used to support OneVoice, an NGO that later campaigned against Netanyahu in Israeli elections.
Now, similar concerns are resurfacing—only this time, not in an election, but in the internal policy debates of a sovereign nation.
The six NGOs contacted by House Republicans must produce relevant financial and operational records by April 9. Failure to comply could lead to subpoenas and congressional hearings.
The probe marks a significant escalation in GOP oversight of foreign policy under the Biden administration—particularly concerning Israel, a key U.S. ally facing existential threats from Iran and its terror proxies.
Why It Matters
At a time when Israel is waging a regional war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s axis of terror, any foreign attempt to destabilize its democratic institutions carries grave consequences.
If U.S. funds were used to support domestic dissent in Israel, it wouldn’t just represent a breach of public trust—it would signal a deliberate attempt to manipulate the politics of a frontline ally in the global war on terror.
