UK Regulator Not Investigating British Charity Patronized by Netanyahu

Date: 27 November 2024 - 21:36

News ID: ۱۳۴۰۷۹

LONDON (Dispatches) – Britain’s charity regulator has told Middle East Eye it is not investigating a British charity which donated £1 million ($1.263mn) to “Israel’s largest militia” and has Zionist prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, as an honorary patron.
The UK branch of Israel’s Jewish National Fund (JNF) has also supported Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.
As a registered charity, JNF UK receives tax relief on donations. The organization’s accounts show that between 2015 and 2018 it paid over £1mn ($1.26mn) to HaShomer HaChadash (HH), a Zionist militia that operates in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz described the organization as having gone from being a “fringe right-wing organization” to “Israel’s largest militia”.
Haaretz reported that HH played a significant role in defending illegal settler outposts in the occupied West Bank, including through land patrols.
British legislation prohibits charities from engaging in political activity.
Last week Middle East Eye asked the Charity Commission, Britain’s charity regulator, whether it was investigating or planned to investigate JNF UK.
The MEE request for comment to the Charity Commission included mention that the JNF UK had funded an Israeli militia, and that on its website the charity displayed a map including the occupied Golan Heights, West Bank and Gaza Strip as part of the so-called “Israel”.
The Charity Commission confirmed last week it was not investigating the organization, saying: “We received concerns alleging that the JNF Charitable Trust funded activities outside of its charitable objects.
“These allegations were thoroughly assessed, which included engagement with the charity’s trustees.
“Having considered all the information obtained, we concluded that there was no evidence to support the allegations that the charity acted outside of its objects. We have therefore closed our case with the issuing of regulatory advice and guidance.”
MEE also contacted JNF UK for comment but did not receive a response.