UK: Charity regulator opens case into community centre for promoting illegal Israeli settlements

Britain 's charity regulator has opened a compliance case into the Jewish Community Centre London (JW3) after it hosted an event which promoted medical clinics in illegal Israeli settlements, Middle East Eye can reveal. The MedEx event , which was held at JW3 in Camden on 25 October, was primarily organised by the Israeli government. It advertised itself as a "can't miss event for doctors and medical students from across the United Kingdom who are considering Aliyah", or Jewish migration to Israel.

Leaflets at the event promoted medical clinics in settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, which the British government considers illegal in line with international law, Sky News reported . Distributed by the Israeli healthcare provider Terem, the leaflets advertised vacancies in clinics in the West Bank settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Beitar Illit and Modiin Illit, as well as Katzrin in the Golan Heights, which Britain recognises as occupied Syrian territory.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), a UK -based legal group, submitted a formal complaint against JW3 to the Charity Commission earlier this week. The complaint, seen by MEE, notes: "The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its July 2024 Advisory Opinion... reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements."

It said: "By providing its premises for an event at which employment opportunities in illegal Israeli settlements are provided, JW3 may have facilitated activities contributing to the maintenance and continued operation of those settlements." The complaint added that the "promotion of recruitment into facilities operating in illegal settlements raises concerns as to whether JW3’s involvement may have facilitated conduct connected to the unlawful transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory".

It further said that "JW3’s trustees may have failed to undertake adequate due diligence and risk assessments before permitting the event to take place". The ICJP asked the Charity Commission to investigate JW3's involvement in hosting MedEx UK, "including the trustees' knowledge of the event’s purpose, participating organisations and promotional materials, and any due diligence or risk assessments undertaken". The group also urged the regulator to consider "whether the circumstances warrant referral to the police or other relevant authorities for investigation into potential criminal offences".

The Charity Commission told MEE on Friday: "We have opened a regulatory compliance case into JW3 Trust Limited to assess concerns raised with us. "We will be engaging with the charity's trustees to gather more information and determine if there is any regulatory role for the Commission." Middle East Eye has approached JW3 for comment. 'JW3 cannot simply wash its hands' In September, the British government recognised Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory as illegal and announced comprehensive sanctions on Israeli settlements.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband promised in parliament that "we will ban the advertising in the UK of illegal settlements". But the sanctions have not yet come into force. Exclusive: London event advertises Israeli agency building illegal settlements Read More » Earlier this month, the World Travel Market (WTM) travel exhibition in London advertised an Israeli agency involved in the construction of illegal settlements. Shaima Dallali, the ICJP’s legal researcher, told MEE on Friday: "We are talking about a recruitment event held at a UK charity where people were being encouraged to take up jobs in illegal Israeli settlements.

"JW3 cannot simply wash its hands of what took place on its premises. There are serious questions about what its trustees knew, what checks were carried out and whether the charity's involvement went beyond providing a venue." Dallali added: "We have asked the Charity Commission to investigate not only potential breaches of charity law, but whether JW3's involvement warrants a criminal investigation. "The promotion of employment in illegal settlements is not something that should be brushed aside as an ordinary recruitment exercise.

"We have repeatedly brought evidence of UK charities funding illegal Israeli settlements to the Charity Commission, yet meaningful accountability remains elusive. "Now we are seeing charitable premises being used to promote jobs in those settlements." Copyright © 2014 - 2026 . Middle East Eye. All rights reserved. Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. Middle East Eye ISSN 2634-2456