Supreme Court ruling could force US aid recipients to follow US policy on Israel

US Judge Brett Kavanaugh,after being nominated by US President Donald Trump (L) to the Supreme Court

Ron Kampeas writes in Times of Israel, “A US Supreme Court decision released Monday in a case about NGOs, HIV-AIDS funding, and prostitution could force US aid recipients to comply with American policy on Israel. Foreign nonprofits must hew to US government dictates to receive the money, the high court ruled.”

“As foreign organizations operating abroad, plaintiffs’ foreign affiliates possess no rights under the First Amendment,” said the 5-3 decision written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh… The case could have implications for nonprofits in the Middle East that the US government considers to be not sufficiently in line with its Israel policies. In May, Kavanaugh appeared during oral arguments to anticipate repercussions the decision would have on such groups.”

““Suppose the US government wants to fund foreign NGOs that support peace in the Middle East, but only if the NGOs explicitly recognize Israel as a legitimate state,” Kavanaugh asked the plaintiffs. “Are you saying the US can’t impose that kind of speech restriction on foreign NGOs that are affiliated with US organizations?” (more…)