Z Street IRS case to be heard in court

Pro-Israel group claims bias in refusal of its bid for tax-exempt status as an educational organization

20 May 2013, 9:36 am Edit

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The pro-Israel group Z Street will have a hearing in court on its bid for tax-exempt status as an educational organization.

Z Street said on its website that the hearing will take place July 2 in US District Court in the District of Columbia.

“Two-and-a-half years after filing a complaint in federal court seeking relief from the Internal Revenue Service for viewpoint discrimination against our strongly pro-Israel organization, Z STREET has a hearing date,” the group said on the site.

Z Street since 2010 has been seeking 501 (c) (3) status. Tax exemptions for such groups are broader than for 501 (c) (4) groups, which lobby the government.

Delays by the IRS in granting 501 (c ) (4) status to a number of conservative groups are at the center of controversy in Washington.

Z Street, which is intended to counterbalance the left-wing group J Street, has claimed that IRS officials delayed approving its status because its views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict contradict those of the Obama administration.

IRS officials in affidavits have denied the claim.