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UK's top Palestinian charity cleared of any terrorist links

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Feb 27, IRNA – Britain’s top Palestinian charity has been cleared for the third time of any alleged links with so-called terrorist organisations.

In a 52-page report Friday, the Charity Commission dismissed allegations made over two-and-a-half years ago by the BBC's Panorama documentary series claiming that Interpal funded partner organisation that promoted terrorist ideology.

“The inquiry found that given the seriousness of the allegations being made, the material did not reach the standard of proof required under UK civil law,” the commission said.

It concluded there was “not enough evidence to support the allegations.”

Interpal responded to the findings saying that it had been “vindicated” for the third time in the past 13 years.

Previous inquiries in 1996 and 2003 also found insufficient evidence to support allegations that have been blamed on the Zionist lobby.

“There has been nothing brought to the inquiry’s attention that suggests that the charity’s funding has been siphoned off for inappropriate or non-charitable purposes,” said Interpal chairman Ibrahim Hewitt.

Hewitt criticised the BBC Panorama program that triggered the inquiry as being “totally irresponsible.”

After a most rigorous process, these accusations have been refuted by the inquiry, he said.

“Given the obvious collaboration between the Israelis and Panorama, it is hard not to conclude that we are the target of an ongoing and concerted political campaign designed to bring a halt to our humanitarian work in the region,” he said.

Interpal said that the smear campaign grew after the US Government, at the request of the Israeli Government, declared Interpal to be a “special designated global terrorist entity” in August 2003, for allegedly supporting Hamas.

Prior being cleared, Lloyds TSB proceeded in November last year to go as far as to stop clearing cheques for the charity that was seen as an attempt to force it to cease its operations entirely.

But the latest investigation, which took more than two year, found that Interpal kept clear financial audit trails in its delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and in its dealings with its partner organisations.

In its report, it acknowledged that charities providing humanitarian aid in high-risk situations make a “vital contribution to the communities affected and support people in desperate need.”

It cleared managing trustee, Essam Mustafa, of any links with terrorism, that were alleged in the Panorama report, but ordered him to resign as the general secretary of the Union for Good group of organisations working in the occupied territories.

Interpal was also asked to end its membership of the union, saying that its reputation could be damaged because the union's president supported violent Palestinian resistance.

"Even in these difficult areas, trustees must discharge their duty of care to ensure the charity's work is protected from abuse, and must avoid activities that might put charities' assets or reputations at risk," said the commission’s chief executive Andrew Hind.

The BBC program, entitled Faith, Hate and Charity claimed that many Islamic charities linked with Interpal are an integral part of Hamas, and are crucial to its support amongst the Palestinian people.

It further alleged that the charity’s funds are sent to local partners which promote what it called a ‘Jihadi ethos.’

It used material from the Israeli Defence Force claiming key figures in the management of certain local partners were members of Hamas.