Feud Flares Between Leading Israeli Aid Charity and U.S. Arm

Mistrust and suspicions about the use of charity money are driving a wedge between Israeli emergency-response charity Magen David Adom and its American money-raising arm, the Forward reports, citing internal e-mails and memos and what the paper describes as six “informed sources.”

American Friends of Magen David Adom and the Israeli charity, the country’s version of the Red Cross, are engaged in what one source called “tense” negotiations over renewal of their contract, which expired December 31.

Magen David Adom is reportedly upset that the U.S. group, which plans a $70-million campaign for 2010, has a large cash surplus and in past years has sent less than two-thirds of its collections to Israel. Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced in the Israeli press of misuse of funds and equipment by Magen David Adom officials.

Lewis Krinsky, chairman of the American group, told the newspaper that the Israeli group has said it wants to continue the association. Officials of the Israeli group have denied some charges of misusing money but said they would take steps to ensure other abuses did not happen going forward.