US Billionaire to Cease Financing Israeli Think Tank Advocating Judiciary Overhaul

Arthur Dantchik, a libertarian multibillionaire from New York, announced that he will withdraw his financial support for the Kohelet Policy Forum, a conservative Jerusalem-based think tank associated with the contentious judicial reform plans of the Israeli government.

The 65-year-old American magnate’s decision to discontinue his contributions to the forum signifies the extensive reach of the ongoing protest campaign against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions to dilute the Supreme Court’s powers.

“Emphasizing healing and national unity in Israel is of utmost importance at this moment,” declared Dantchik in a statement circulated by The Big Big News, signaling his funding cessation. “Throughout my life, I have endorsed a variety of institutions that champion individual liberties and economic freedoms for everyone.”

The wave of dissent in Israel, which has endured for seven months, has unveiled ingrained societal divisions and propelled the nation towards a potential democracy crisis.

Founded by American-Israeli computer scientist Moshe Koppel in 2012, the Kohelet Policy Forum has risen as one of the principal devisers of Netanyahu’s judicial reform agenda. Kohelet refrained from commenting specifically on Dantchik’s decision, simply stating that its donations are diversified and progressively growing.

The Israeli press has speculated that Kohelet has participated in discussions concerning the reform proposals, which aim to enhance governmental influence in the judge appointment process and complicate the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn laws. An associate from Netanyahu’s right-leaning Likud party mentioned earlier this year that the think tank had offered the government the identical reform proposal that it presented to the Israeli parliament.

The first significant legislative piece of the judicial reform was approved by the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, last month. The decision triggered widespread discontent among critics who believe it may undermine one of the country’s key checks against governmental excess and corrode its democratic structures. Supporters, including Kohelet, argue that the plan strengthens democracy by transferring more power from unelected judges to the elected government.

Dantchik’s Friday announcement also highlights the influential role American capital and concepts play in Israeli political affairs. The Haaretz daily first reported in 2021 that Dantchik was one of the two main financial backers of Kohelet, exposing a complicated network of undisclosed third-party American groups through which Dantchik and others funneled their contributions.

As a co-founder of the privately-held financial powerhouse Susquehanna International Group based in Pennsylvania, Dantchik’s net worth stands at $7.3 billion, according to the latest Forbes estimate. The actual amount he has donated to Kohelet, which is not obligated to disclose its donations, remains undisclosed.

The controversy surrounding the judicial amendments in Israel risks straining its relations with its closest ally. US President Joe Biden has publicly denounced Netanyahu’s judiciary overhaul plan, and the legislation has drawn condemnation from liberal Jewish organizations in the U.S.

In his statement regarding Kohelet, Dantchik voiced concerns about the increasing societal divisions in Israel that have been accentuated by the reform plan.

He cautioned, “When a society becomes perilously fragmented, it is essential for people to unite in order to safeguard democracy.”

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More about Arthur Dantchik Funding Withdrawal

• Arthur Dantchik’s Philanthropic Activities
• About the Kohelet Policy Forum
• Netanyahu’s Judicial Reform
• President Biden’s Stand on the Issue
• Susquehanna International Group