WASHINGTON ? Christians United for Israel (CUFI) objected to an advertisement run by a group it funds that depicted the president of the New Israel Fund (NIF) wearing a horn.
?Although we are often demonized by our critics, CUFI never demonizes those with whom we disagree, and we object when anyone does,? CUFI spokesperson Ari Morgenstern told JTA.
The ad, run by Im Tirtzu, an Israeli right-wing grassroots group, attempts to link the New Israel Fund to the Goldstone report, the UN Human Rights Council investigation last year that charged
Israel with war crimes in the Gaza Strip during its military operation last winter.
?Without the New Israel Fund, there could be no Goldstone report and Israel would not be facing international accusations of war crimes,? says the ad, illustrated by a cartoon of Naomi Chazan,
NIF's president, sporting a horn and a predatory grin.
Im Tirtzu has singled out 16 groups from among the hundreds NIF funds as having contributed to Goldstone's inquiry. NIF has denied funding one of the groups.
John Hagee Ministries, founded by the pastor who also founded CUFI, donated a total of $200,000 to Im Tirtzu in 2008 and 2009, citing its pledge toward ?public advocacy on behalf of the State of
Israel and of Zionism on campuses,? Morgenstern said.
Hagee Ministries did not have advance knowledge of the campaign, he said. A number of liberal pro-Israel groups have decried the ad and other attacks on NIF and human rights groups in Israel.
Asked whether Hagee Ministries would continue to fund Im Tirtzu, he would say only that ?all activities of organizations have an impact on' the process of deciding which groups to fund.
