MP Melanie Ward Highlights Charity Donations to Israeli Settlements
Thirty-two charities based in England and Wales have reportedly donated at least £28 million to Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law, according to Labour MP Melanie Ward.
Ward emphasized that if gift aid were claimed on these donations in the standard manner, it would imply that UK taxpayers have indirectly subsidized these settlements by approximately £5.6 million, a situation she described as deplorable. On Tuesday, it was announced that the Charity Commission has been assigned the task of investigating the connections between UK charities and these settlements.
Formerly the chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Ward detailed these activities in a letter addressed to the Charity Commission. In her correspondence, she urged the regulator to take decisive action by investigating the involved charities and considering their removal from the charity register.
“The existence and growth of Israeli settlements in the state of is globally recognised as one of the major impediments to peace. Any activity which supports the maintenance and the expansion of Israeli settlements – such as that funded by these 32 ‘charities’ – is extremist and not of benefit to the UK public. Further, it risks being materially and financially used in pursuance of breaches of international law.”
Charities Named and Their Contributions
Among the charities identified by Ward are the Kasner Charitable Trust (KCT) and UK Toremet. Together, with UK Toremet acting as a conduit, they have donated approximately £5.7 million to the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva high school located in Susya, within the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Ward stated that researchers, who reviewed documents in both English and Hebrew, found that Kasner had also contributed to a yeshiva in Hebron, a Palestinian city. Additionally, in 2022, UK Toremet donated £38,479 to Regavim, an extremist pro-settler organization known for supporting the demolition of Palestinian homes and which the European Union has designated accordingly.
Through the Jgive platform, for which UK Toremet processes UK currency donations, individuals can contribute to Regavim and other pro-settler groups, including Shivat Zion Lerigvy Admata, which the UK government announced on Tuesday as part of its recent designations.
A spokesperson for UK Toremet stated that the Charity Commission had found the organization to be compliant with legal requirements. They added that UK Toremet only processes Jgive payments after conducting due diligence and ensures that such payments are for projects aligned with charitable purposes.
The spokesperson further clarified that Shivat Zion Lerigvy Admata is not an approved recipient under UK Toremet’s grant-making framework. They also noted that the donation to Regavim was designated for a project within Israel’s pre-1967 borders and that Regavim is no longer an approved recipient.
When previously contacted, KCT stated that its donations were intended for educational purposes and had been approved by the Charity Commission.
Legal and Ethical Concerns Raised
Ward asserted that providing funds to support illegal settlements in Palestine does not constitute a charitable activity and is inconsistent with UK and international law concerning settlement activities. She highlighted that this position is supported by the United Nations, successive UK governments, the International Court of Justice, and is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court on grounds of war crimes.
Yaser Alkam, a Palestinian-American resident of the occupied village of Turmus Ayya, who was attacked by settlers last year while attempting to harvest olives, commented on the impact of such donations.
“Donating to these outposts and to these settlements is directly affecting Palestinians, the owners of the land in these areas. You’re providing the means for these crimes to continue and to flourish.”
Charity Commission Response
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission acknowledged that it is carefully considering the serious issues raised by Ward.
“As we have previously confirmed, we are actively considering the wider legal and compliance issues relating to charities operating in Palestine,”the spokesperson said.
“We know this is a complex and highly contentious issue and so it is right that we take the time needed to consider these matters fully.”
