UK Charity Under Fire for Supporting Expansion of Israeli Settlement in Hebron
UK charity funding school at heart – Amid escalating tensions in the West Bank, a British charity has come under scrutiny for its financial support of a religious school at the center of Israeli settlement expansion in Hebron, a Palestinian city. Friends of Yeshivat Shavei Hevron, a group dedicated to aiding Jewish communities in the occupied territories, has contributed nearly £200,000 to the institution since 2019. The last public accounts of the charity, released by the Charity Commission—the regulatory body for England and Wales—show this figure, highlighting the organization’s long-term involvement in the settlement’s growth. The funding has enabled the construction of a new dormitory, a project approved in June 2024 by the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who effectively revoked a decades-old international agreement to grant Israel control over Hebron’s development.
Settlement Expansion and Its Impact on Palestinians
The settlement in Hebron, one of the most extreme in the occupied West Bank, has grown rapidly thanks to such contributions. Critics argue that the expansion displaces Palestinians and intensifies the occupation’s grip on the city. Hagit Ofran, a spokesperson for the Israeli advocacy group Peace Now, described the new dormitory as a “significant development,” emphasizing its role in increasing the number of settlers in an area already marked by apartheid-like policies. “This yeshiva’s existence is built on the displacement of thousands of Palestinians,” Ofran stated, pointing to the loss of shops, housing, and daily livelihoods in the city’s heart.
“We want British charities to fund peace, not to fund obstacles for peace. This is very wrong,” said Issa Amro, a Palestinian human rights defender from Hebron and co-founder of Youth Against Settlements. “The students at this yeshiva are very aggressive. A new building will mean more violence towards Palestinians, more restrictions, more Israeli military presence.”
Hebron’s settlement expansion has created a fragmented cityscape, where Israeli military structures isolate settlers from the surrounding Palestinian population. Streets are restricted to Jewish residents, and walls and gates divide communities, limiting access for Palestinians to nearly half of Hebron’s 230,000 inhabitants. The new dormitory, now nearing completion, sits adjacent to a Palestinian home, with an Israeli outpost established on its roof. This physical presence underscores the ongoing militarization of the area, which activists say has deepened the occupation’s impact.
Charity’s Deed of Trust and Funding Discrepancies
Friends of Yeshivat Shavei Hevron’s funding appears to contradict its own legal mandate. The charity’s deed of trust specifies support for “educational and charitable work in the state of Israel,” without mentioning Palestine. However, the school it finances is located in Hebron, a city within the occupied West Bank. This discrepancy has raised questions about the organization’s adherence to its stated principles. In 2023, the charity donated £58,200 to the institution and claimed over £2,000 in gift aid from HMRC, though it notes on its website that it is not registered for gift aid. The following year, 2024, saw a smaller contribution of £21,360, as the charity did not file full accounts due to lower turnover.
International leaders, including the late US president Jimmy Carter, the former Mossad head Tamir Pardo, and former Israeli attorney general Michael Ben-Yair, have previously accused Israel of implementing apartheid in the West Bank. These allegations align with the concerns of critics who view Hebron’s settlement as a prime example of such policies. The school’s fundraising efforts extend beyond the UK, targeting countries that classify Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine as illegal. Donors in France and Canada can receive “receipts” for their contributions, suggesting a deliberate strategy to attract international support.
Global Concerns and Regulatory Response
The controversy has drawn attention from both international and domestic bodies. In a June 2024 letter, Labour MP Melanie Ward highlighted that Friends of Yeshivat Shavei Hevron was among 32 UK charities registered in England and Wales that had collectively donated at least £28 million to Israeli settlements in recent years. The Charity Commission, which received the letter, has acknowledged the concerns but described the issue as “complex and contentious.” It noted that the matter involves broader legal principles, including the right of charities to operate in regions with contested jurisdiction or lawlessness.
While the commission has tasked itself with investigating links to settlements, no formal inquiry is currently underway. The Guardian reports that the commission has shared the details of Ward’s letter with the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes unit, but the investigation remains in its early stages. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper echoed these concerns in a parliamentary statement on June 9, calling out the misuse of charity systems to “funnel support to illegal settlements” and citing “some evidence” that rules are being broken. Cooper emphasized the need for clarity in how charities allocate resources, particularly in areas where occupation and conflict intersect.
Corporate Involvement and Broader Implications
The charity’s financial activities are also linked to corporate support. Friends of Yeshivat Shavei Hevron provides details of a UK account with Barclays Bank, enabling donors to transfer funds directly. A Barclays spokesperson noted that the bank could not comment on individual clients but affirmed its general policies. Meanwhile, Israeli crowdfunding platforms like Israelgives have played a role in securing millions of dollars in support for settlements from US residents, illustrating a network of international funding that sustains the expansion.
As the settlement in Hebron continues to grow, the debate over its legitimacy intensifies. While Israel has not officially defined its borders, the British government’s formal recognition of Palestine in 2023 has created a new legal context. This recognition means that Hebron, part of the Palestinian territory, is now classified as a region where the state of Palestine holds authority. For the charity, this raises questions about whether its funding for a settlement within Palestinian-controlled land aligns with the broader shift in international recognition.
The case of Friends of Yeshivat Shavei Hevron highlights the intersection of philanthropy and politics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By supporting a school that is central to the settlement’s expansion, the charity has become a focal point for discussions about the role of foreign aid in perpetuating occupation. As the debate unfolds, the organization’s actions will likely shape the discourse on whether charitable efforts can be reconciled with the goal of peace in the region.
