The Charity Commission has launched a fact-finding statutory
class inquiry that will investigate concerns about multiple
charities working in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.
The investigation will seek to establish the extent of the use of
charitable funds in illegal Israeli settlements, the purpose of
that spending, and, if so, whether this was in furtherance of the
charities' purposes.
It will also enable the Commission to assess whether charity
assets or beneficiaries are at risk, and what regulatory action,
if any, is required to resolve the concerns.
The inquiry is focused on fact-finding and will initially involve
8 charities that are amongst those which were identified in
concerns recently raised with the Commission.
Opening a class inquiry enables the Commission to examine
regulatory concerns in greater detail and is not a finding of
wrongdoing.
The 8 charities initially under inquiry have been prioritised
following an assessment of the concerns received against a range
of risk factors such as the location of charity partners and how
recently alleged activity occurred. The charities are not being
publicly named at this time.
The Commission intends to publish a report detailing the issues
examined, its findings, and regulatory actions once the class
inquiry, or stages of the class inquiry, have concluded. The
Commission will consider naming the charities when it publishes
its report.
The Commission plans to extend the number of charities under
investigation over time to other charities that appear to expend
charitable funds to support, directly or indirectly, activities
and/or projects within illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.
The Commission has shared information about the scope of its
inquiry with the police and HMRC.
Stephen Roake, Assistant Director, High Risk Compliance at the
Charity Commission said:
All charities must be able to demonstrate that they are
delivering on their charitable purposes, wherever in the world
they operate and whatever they do.
Serious allegations have been made about UK charities operating
in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, so our first step is
to establish the facts. Only then can we determine if regulatory
action is required, based on our findings and the evidence we
see.
Our fact-finding will also help us develop regulatory guidance
for charities, which will to help ensure public trust and
confidence in charities.
The scope of the inquiry may be extended if additional regulatory
issues emerge during the Commission's investigation.
EndsNotes to editors:
Contact the Charity Commission Press Office at:
pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk
Out of hours, please call us on : 07785 748787
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The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial
government department that registers and regulates charities
in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert
regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that
charity can thrive. The Commission has a wide range of
regulatory powers which it can use to support charities and
protect charitable assets. Further information about the
Charity Commission and its work is
available at The Charity Commission
- GOV.UK.
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is
responsible for foreign policy and the implementation of
international obligations in UK law.
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A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission
to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern and to
use protective powersto protectthe charity and its
beneficiaries, assets, or reputation. Section 46 of the
Charities Act 2011 (the Act') grants the Commission powers
to, from time to time, institute inquiries with regard to
charities or a particular charity or class of charities,
either generally or for particular purposes.
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The scope of this class inquiry is as follows: to establish
the extent to which funds or other resources have been
applied by charities within the defined class in relation to
illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, the purposes for
which those funds were used, and the extent to which this
meets the requirements of charity law. This will include
examining what funds were applied within an illegal
settlement and whether the application of those funds was in
furtherance of the charities' stated charitable purposes. The
scope of the class inquiry may be expanded if necessary.
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The Commission does not have a remit to investigate crimes or
breaches of the Geneva Convention any criminal matters are
for the police to investigate. Our focus as regulator is on
trustees' governance and management of their charities,
including their work to ensure all the charity's work
delivers on its purposes, for the public benefit.
- Under section 56 of the Act, the Commission may disclose
information to a relevant public authority in connection with the
exercise of the Commission's functions or the functions of that
authority. The Commission has disclosed specific concerns it has
already received to the police and HMRC under that provision.
- The Commission produces a series of guidance to
help set up and run a charity, including on making decisions.
