Charity Commission issues official warning to Mizrachi UK over IDF fundraising appeal

The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to Mizrachi UK after the organisation promoted a fundraising appeal seeking donations for equipment for Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers.

According to the Commission, this fundraising activity did not align with the charity’s stated objective of providing public benefit and risked harming its reputation.

Mizrachi UK’s stated purpose is to provide vocational training to Britain’s Jewish community and other members of the public who represent either the UK or Israel.

In its warning, issued on November 18, the Commission said: “The Charity promoted a fundraising appeal for other organisations on its website and Facebook page, and the appeal stated the purpose to be one that did not further the Charity’s objects for the public benefit, specifically the raising of funds to provide equipment to soldiers in a foreign military.

“Whilst the Charity’s resources were used to promote this appeal, there is no evidence that its funds were used in doing so.

“Promoting the appeal was not in the Charity’s best interests, and it risked the Charity’s reputation.”

The warning also noted: “The Charity failed to document decision-making in relation to the fundraising appeal.”

Additionally, the Commission said Mizrachi UK “failed to follow their policies and procedures, which were in place to manage the risks of fundraising and sending funds internationally. This was a failure to manage the Charity’s resources responsibly.”

The investigation was reportedly launched following a complaint by the UK-based International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), which accused Mizrachi UK of spreading hate speech and raising funds for Israeli soldiers.

Among the activities scrutinised by the Commission was a call for donations to Mizrachi’s Tzevet Perez emergency fund. The fund collected money to purchase tactical equipment for active IDF soldiers, including tactical helmets, ceramic bulletproof inserts, and other military gear.

The Commission ordered Mizrachi UK to ensure that all future activities, including fundraising, are clearly in furtherance of its charitable objectives for the public benefit. The charity must also implement adequate monitoring policies to manage risk and ensure that trustees follow due diligence procedures.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: “We have issued an official warning to Mizrachi (UK) Support Trust in relation to the charity’s promotion of an external fundraising appeal to provide equipment to soldiers in a foreign military that did not further the charity’s objectives for the public benefit.

“We will follow up with the charity’s trustees in due course to ensure the charity complies with the actions required by the official warning.”

Jewish News has contacted Mizrachi UK for comment.