Dear Sir:

    The New Israel Fund has supported some harmless -- and even a few constructive -- activities and groups in Israel, including those working for religious pluralism. But it has also funneled funds into anti-Zionist extremist groups in Israel, including front groups for Israel's Hadash Communist Party.

    It is the main finance group for the rabidly anti-Israel group Betselem, which pretends to be a human rights watchdog, except that Jewish human rights and security just do not count for it.

    In the most recent controversy, the New Israel Fund tried to bamboozle the American taxpayer into sponsoring an event at the Smithsonian that would have been a balanced mix of Arabs who want Israel destroyed and Jews who want Israel destroyed.

    The only "New Israel" that the fund wishes to create is the one to be called Palestine.