Far-right group directly supplies items to IDF troops, flouting army rules

An organization belonging to the Moskowitz Foundation, headed by far-right American millionaire Irwin Moskowitz, purchases goods which are handed over directly to Israel Defense Forces soldiers, flouting IDF regulations, Haaretz has learned.

The non-governmental organization Yashar Lachayal raises funds in Israel and mostly in the United States for winter clothes for combat units and financial support in the form of household goods for soldiers without families. The Ma'aleh Adumim-based NGO is financed by the Moskowitz Foundation, which also funds the construction of Jewish outposts in East Jerusalem.

IDF regulations prohibit transferring items directly to needy soldiers and require every contribution - whether money or products - to an IDF unit to go through the Soldiers' Welfare Association or the Libi Fund for Strengthening Israel's Defense.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani, chairman of the Soldiers' Welfare Association, is a member of yet another NGO belonging to the Moskowitz Foundation. He serves on the committee of the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism, an annual event that awards prizes worth $50,000.

One of the prize winners in the Moskowitz Prize ceremony to be held this Thursday is Noam Arnon, the radical right-wing spokesman of the Jewish settlers in Hebron. Another is Ronit Shoker, the founder of an illegal West Bank outpost.

Leon Blankrot, the director of Yashar Lachayal, commented: "We established the organization because we wanted to make sure the contributions reached the soldiers directly. We initially acted in coordination with the Soldiers' Welfare Association. Now we coordinate our activities with the Libi Fund." However, Yashar Lachayal's Web site shows its activists delivering the contributed products directly to IDF units, in violation of army regulations.

A spokeswoman for the Soldiers' Welfare Association said the association had "worked with Yashar Lachayal on a one-time basis, in transferring contributed equipment to needy soldiers about a year ago, in keeping with the regulations. Since then Yashar Lachayal has not asked to transfer any contributions to the IDF." Referring to Kahalani's role, the spokeswoman said he was not involved in any Moskowitz Foundation activity apart from his serving on the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism committee.

The IDF spokesman said: "Yashar Lachayal asked to transfer a contribution to IDF units according to regulations. NGO requests are generally handled by the Soldiers' Welfare Association or the Libi Fund. Army regulations forbid IDF units to be in direct contact with contributors. Requests for contributions to specific IDF units are examined individually and decisions are made on the basis of the units' needs."