While Israel is often the target of animus from opponents of the Jewish state who question its fundamental right to exist, there is a heightened level of debate regarding the validity of what pro-Israel groups call communities in Judea and Samaria, and others call illegal settlements.
They are Jewish communities created in areas that are occupied by Israel, but viewed by international law as illegal.
Now, Maryland is looking to impact the ability of state organizations to support these communities by prohibiting certain nonprofits registered in the state from “knowingly engaging in ‘unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity’” and authorizing the attorney general or a private citizen “harmed” by a violation of this rule to bring action against the organization in question.
HB 1184, known as the “Not on Our Dime Act” was introduced in early February by House Democrats Gabriel Acevero, Ashanti Martinez and Caylin Young. It states that Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown would have the power to file civil lawsuits against nonprofits that violate the terms of the bill. The bill defines “unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity” by nonprofits as follows:
- The unlawful transfer of Israeli civilians into occupied territory
- Acts of violence against protected persons by citizens of Israel living in occupied territories
- Crimes against property
- The unilateral acquisition and annexation of land in occupied territory
- The forced transfer or eviction of protected persons within occupied territory, or the deportation of protected persons within occupied territory
- The destruction of of infrastructure within occupied territory
The bill states that nonprofits would have to submit an audit if “the gross income from contributions in the most recent fiscal year is at least $750,000, or a review by an independent CPA if the gross income from contributions from the last fiscal year is at least $300,000 but less than $750,000.”
Enforcement would be handled by the secretary of state or the attorney general, with those officials having the power to issue a cease-and-desist order to a violating nonprofit, at which point the organization could request a hearing to review their actions.
A similar bill was introduced in 2024, although it was not codified into law.
Opponents of the bill in the Maryland House of Delegates stated during deliberation that it unfairly singles out Israel for supposed wrongdoing, while those in favor argued that there is ample reason for the state to oppose support of Israeli settlements that are widely seen as illegal under international law. The international community largely views the Golan Heights and West Bank as occupied territory, although Israel more or less annexed those areas in the early 1980s with the passage of two laws addressing the territory in the northern and eastern parts of the Levant.
During his first term, President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and his administration stated that the United States does not consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank a violation of international law.
There are a handful of other bills that were introduced in Maryland that have garnered controversy for their alleged anti-Israel nature. One calls for banning the state pension system from investing in Israeli interests. Another calls for canceling a rule that companies doing business with the state of Maryland pledge that they are not boycotting Israel. There is a third that is less direct — it condemns violence in Sudan, Gaza and the Congo, but fails to mention Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The final bill is one that looks to establish a statewide commission that would work to promote more inclusive history curricula in schools. That commission does not at this point have support from the Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus, although it is supported by members of other minority caucuses.
The current legislative session began on Jan. 14 and will run until April 13, at which point lawmakers will break. The last hearing for HB 1184 was held on March 11, and the Maryland General Assembly’s website does not have an update on future hearings at this point.
