The hospital room in Yatta, a Palestinian city in the West Bank, is filled with visitors providing comfort to Khader Nawaj’ah and his wife, Fatima. Khader Nawaj’ah, with a bruised face and swollen left hand, recounts being attacked by Israeli settlers while sleeping outside his home in Khirbet Susiya. Dr. Tareq Abu Aram, who treats victims of settler attacks, mentions that incidents like this are unfortunately common.
Canada has taken action by sanctioning individuals and entities involved in extremist settler violence in the West Bank since May 2024. Despite this, tax-deductible donations from Canadians are still flowing to groups supporting West Bank settlements, which some argue contradict international law.
Nasser Nawaj’ah, a field researcher for B’Tselem, emphasizes the need for Canada to enforce its stance on illegal Israeli settlements. The presence of settlers in the West Bank, even if not directly involved in violence, is seen as legitimizing such actions.
Charitable giving in Canada is meant to contribute to the public good, but concerns have been raised about donations indirectly supporting Israeli military activities in the West Bank. The CRA revoked the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada for failing to control donations and supporting non-charitable causes.
Critics argue that Canadian donations funding Israeli entities in the West Bank could be considered as supporting war criminality. Despite restrictions, some charities continue to send millions to groups backing settlement activities.
Residents of Khirbet Susiya live in fear of settler violence and the potential demolition of their homes. While some charities face complaints for their funding practices, Canada’s tax authority maintains that charity laws are stringent.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expresses concerns about settler violence in the West Bank, highlighting the potential legal repercussions. The ongoing struggles faced by Palestinians in Khirbet Susiya underscore the challenges and lack of justice in their situation.
