The charity was accused of fundraising for Israeli soldiers in the occupied Palestinian Territories [Getty]
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has issued a complaint to the UK’s Charity Commission against a pro-Israel charity over accusations it has violated UK law.
Mizrachi UK is a religious Zionist charity and aims to facilitate greater ties between Israel and the Jewish community, hosting education and community programs to do so.
The ICJP, however, accused Mizrachi UK of violating section three of the Charities Act 2011 on “providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force”, through its fundraising for Israeli military personnel in the occupied Palestinian Territories and instructing members to fundraise for soldiers stationed in Gaza.
Additionally, the ICJP said the charity was platforming far-right Israeli activists who were promoting hate speech, which is says is “totally at odds with the role of charities in the UK”.
Lastly, the ICJP said it had found certain material in the charitiy’s internal communications that was “likely to stir up racial hatred and/or inflame community tensions, possibly violating UK Charity Law and Equalities Act duties.”
The ICJP’s Legal officer, Mira Naseer, said that pro-Israel charities in the UK were violating both UK as well as international law.
“Allowing charities in the UK to fundraise for unlawful purposes and spread divisive rhetoric undermines the public’s trust in the charity sector,” she said.
She added that “the charity Commission must investigate and take serious action against any wrongdoing: A slap-on-the-wrist will not suffice.”
The New Arab has reached out to Mizrachi UK for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The accusation follows from an official warning given by the Charity Commission to another London-based charity in January after the commission found the charity had raised money for an Israeli soldier stationed in northern Israel.
In August 2024, the ICJP called on the UK to remove the charity status of the Jewish National Fund following Canada’s decision to revoke the charitable status of JNF Canada and another pro-Israel group, the Ne’eman Foundation.
