Donations To Israeli Military Are Tax-Deductible!
September 25, 2002

In many cases, Americans can be prosecuted for giving money to foreign armies. As we have been told in the case of John Walker Lindh, Americans can give up their citizenship rights by joining a foreign army.

But as with many things, there is an exception: Israel.

Not only is it allowed to give money to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), it is actually a tax-deductible contribution under US tax laws.

The Fund for Strengthing Israel's Defenses, solicits funds from US citizens to "make up what the [Israeli] defense budget can't cover." And these contributions (of $100 or more) are tax-deductible by making the checks to the P.E.F. Israel Endowment Fund. Their website contains the following quote from Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion: "The IDF should also be the center for Zionist education for Israel's youth, children and immigrants..."

I guess that's what they mean by the "special relationship" between the U.S. government and Israel.