Zionist Pressure Forces Shutdown
Of Institute’s Credit Card Processing
MasterCard Company Supports Bigoted Campaign Against the IHR
News from Institute for Historical Review
October 2013
A campaign by an “Israel first” New York politician with a record of support for Zionist terrorism has shut down processing of credit card orders and donations by the Institute for Historical Review (IHR). MasterCard Worldwide, a major global credit card company, is supporting this initiative, and has “blacklisted” the IHR.
Because the Institute has been put on a list of “terminated” or “high risk” clients, merchant service providers will not do business with the IHR, which prevents all credit card processing.
Behind the shutdown, in place since Sept. 13, is Dov Hikind, a member of the New York state legislature. He calls the IHR a “hate group” and a “Holocaust denial organization.” A news release on this campaign issued by Hikind’s office includes a photo of the politician with two MasterCard corporate representatives.
Hikind is well known as a fervent Zionist. For years he was an activist of the Jewish Defense League, an outfit that the FBI describes as a terrorist group. He is also a vehement, decades- long supporter of Israel’s policies of oppression and discrimination.
A recent article in The Nation weekly profiles Dov Hikind as “a man who has been suspected by the FBI of involvement in several terrorist bombings and who was a top cadre in an organization currently identified by the FBI as a ‘violent extremist Jewish organization’.” And “despite his links to acts of terrorism and violence against racial minorities,” the influential magazine goes on, Hikind “has emerged as a political kingmaker in New York State politics.”
“MasterCard’s support of this Hikind’s effort against the IHR is all the more contemptible in light this politician’s well- documented record of support for bigotry and violence,” says IHR director Mark Weber.
Two MasterCard Worldwide officials meet with New York politician Dov Hikind in his office on August 27, 2013, to show support for his campaign to shut down credit card processing by the Institute for Historical Review and several other so-called “hate groups.” With Hikind is (left) Noah Hanft, a MasterCard company lawyer, and (right) Richard Santoro, a MasterCard lobbyist.
The IHR is an independent educational research and publishing center based in southern California that works to promote peace, understanding and justice through greater public awareness of the past. It is recognized by the federal IRS agency as a 501 ( c)(3) tax-exempt, public interest educational enterprise.
Over the years the IHR has often come under fire from hostile sectarian groups that regard it as harmful to their interests. The Institute has repeatedly been a victim of bigotry and extremist violence. In 1984, for example, Jewish Defense League activists carried out a criminal arson attack against the Institute’s offices.
In letters to Master Card company officials, the IHR Director pointed out false and malicious claims made by Hikind about the IHR, and reviewed the politician’s record of bigotry and support for violence. Weber also called on the company to end its collaboration with Hikind , and to rescind its unprincipled blacklisting of the IHR.
The text of a letter by Weber to the MasterCard company President and CEO is given below.
INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL REVIEW
Mark Weber, Director
October 8, 2013
Ajay Banga
President and Chief Executive Officer
MasterCard Worldwide
2000 Purchase Street
Purchase, NY 10577
MasterCard’s Support For Hikind’s Campaign Against the Institute for Historical Review
Dear Mr. Banga,
New York politician Dov Hikind recently announced that the MasterCard company is cooperating with him in a campaign against our organization, the Institute for Historical Review (IHR). In an August 27 news release issued by his office, which includes a photo of him with two MasterCard corporate officials, Hikind reports on this campaign, and your company’s support of it.
Hikind says that he wants MasterCard Worldwide and other credit card companies, as well as merchant banks and service providers, to end business relations with the IHR, which he calls a “hate group.”
I am writing to inform you of false claims made by Hikind about the IHR, and to urge you to terminate your corporation’s collaboration with him.
The IHR is an independent educational research and publishing center that works to promote peace, understanding and justice through greater public awareness of the past, and especially socially-politically relevant aspects of twentieth-century history. For 18 years, the IHR has been recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) public interest educational enterprise.
Far from being a “hate group,” as Hikind claims, the IHR steadfastly opposes bigotry of all kinds. We are proud of the support we have earned from people of the most diverse political views, and racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The IHR has itself been a victim of bigoted violence. Some years ago, Zionist fanatics even carried out a criminal arson attack against our offices.
Hikind’s claim that the IHR is a “Holocaust denial” organization is untrue. The IHR does not “deny” the Holocaust. The IHR as such has no “position” on any specific event or chapter of history, except to promote greater awareness and understanding, and to encourage more objective investigation. Items published or distributed by the IHR, as well as articles and reviews posted on our website, represent a wide range of views. The IHR does not necessarily agree with the content or outlook of published, posted or distributed items.
MasterCard company’s cooperation with Hikind is all the more regrettable in light of this politician’s well-documented record of support for bigotry and violence. Hikind is unapologetic about his role as an activist for the Jewish Defense League, which the FBI described as a “violent extremist Jewish organization” and a “right-wing terrorist group.” Moreover, Hikind has for years been a staunch supporter of and apologist for Israel’s policies of oppression and discrimination based on ancestry.
For millions of people around the world, including many MasterCard users, it is Dov Hikind – and not the IHR – who deserves to be scorned and shunned.
I urge you to take measures to end MasterCard’s collaboration with Hikind, and to terminate your company’s support for his campaign against the IHR.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mark Weber
Director,
INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL REVIEW
P. O. Box 2739
Newport Beach, CA 92659
USA
Tel. 714 – 593 9725
E-mail: weber@ihr.org