Apple accused of sending $34.5M from employee donations to Israeli army, report says
Some employees and shareholders are accusing Apple of using the contribution of employees to damage agencies that are connected with the Israeli military and the settlers in the occupied territories of the West Bank.
In a recent report by The Intercept, 133 people claiming to be a group of shareholders, as well as current and former employees, have penned a letter to Apple expressing their concern regarding the beneficiaries of these donations. While employees were freely donating money to the Israel Defense Forces and other groups supporting settlers in the West Bank, the letter claims Apple was routing the money to those groups.
Since this is a group of people with complaints, they are consequently demanding an investigation on these allegations and want Apple to stop donating to ‘all organizations that support illegal settlements in occupied territories and the IDF. ’ This appeal expresses developed concern over the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Apple’s donation matching program is organized with help of Benevity, an online tool through which employees may donate to various non-profit organizations, and the company will match their donations.
Some of the listed organizations that are allowed to receive donations are “Friends of the IDF.” this organization finances the Israeli army and other organizations such as “HaYovel,” “One Israel Fund,” “the Jewish National Fund,” “IsraelGives” which are connected with support of settlers in the West Bank.
Apple’s management has not replied to these questions regarding these issues. Well, that is Apple’s management for you.
In a similar case, the Apple workers who were named ‘Apples4Ceasefire’ demonstrated in April against Apple disciplining or firing employees supporting Palestinians through wearing keffiyehs, pins, bracelets, or specific clothing.
Diala Shamas, a senior attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, slammed the listed organizations, saying they are the worst actors. Says: The issue with the laws that prevent the financing of activities that violate international law is that, well, they are not enforced by the IRS to the extent where companies and individuals need to make sure that the money that they are giving to these organizations does not support potentially, illegal activities.
Some employees and shareholders are accusing Apple of using the contribution of employees to damage agencies that are connected with the Israeli military and the settlers in the occupied territories of the West Bank.
In a recent report by The Intercept, 133 people claiming to be a group of shareholders, as well as current and former employees, have penned a letter to Apple expressing their concern regarding the beneficiaries of these donations. While employees were freely donating money to the Israel Defense Forces and other groups supporting settlers in the West Bank, the letter claims Apple was routing the money to those groups.
Since this is a group of people with complaints, they are consequently demanding an investigation on these allegations and want Apple to stop donating to ‘all organizations that support illegal settlements in occupied territories and the IDF. ’ This appeal expresses developed concern over the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Apple’s donation matching program is organized with help of Benevity, an online tool through which employees may donate to various non-profit organizations, and the company will match their donations. Some of the listed organizations that are allowed to receive donations are “Friends of the IDF.” this organization finances the Israeli army and other organizations such as “HaYovel,” “One Israel Fund,” “the Jewish National Fund,” “And Israel Gives” which are connected with the support of settlers in the West Bank.
Apple’s management has not replied to these questions regarding these issues. Well, that is Apple’s management for you.
In a similar case, Apple workers named ‘Apples4Ceasefire’ demonstrated in April against Apple disciplining or firing employees supporting Palestinians by wearing keffiyehs, pins, bracelets, or specific clothing.
Diala Shamas, a senior attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, slammed the listed organizations, saying they are the worst actors. Says: The issue with the laws that prevent the financing of activities that violate international law is that, well, they are not enforced by the IRS to the extent where companies and individuals need to make sure that the money that they are giving to these organizations does not support potentially, illegal activities.
