Two British Charities Donate Millions of Dollars to Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

Translation by SadaNews - The Guardian revealed that two British charitable institutions have transferred millions of pounds sterling to an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank with the approval of the Charity Commission.

Documents show that the Kasner Charity Trust (KCT), through a charity called UK Toremet, donated approximately £5.7 million to a religious school in the settlement of Susya, built on Palestinian land south of Hebron.

The British newspaper reported, according to SadaNews, "As the school's budget significantly increased due to the donations, both the number of students and staff at the school and residents of the Susya settlement have also increased."

Israeli settlement expert Dror Etkes said: "It is likely that the school is the largest source of employment in the settlement and constitutes one of the key elements for the existence of the entire settlement."

Former Conservative Party leader Sayeeda Warsi stated: "It is shocking that any British citizen would participate in funding illegal settlements on occupied land - and what is even more disturbing is that this is supported by all taxpayers."

She added, "I am sure that the vast majority of my colleagues in Westminster share my outrage at the Charity Commission's approval of these donations. Serious action must be taken to prevent settlements, which are considered illegal under international law and are at the core of a system of discrimination and displacement, from benefiting from charitable donations."

In turn, Andy McDonald, a member of parliament from the Labour Party, said: "The government must urgently take the necessary steps to ban the use of funds coming from the UK to support any aspect of the illegal occupation, and ensure that there is no doubt in the Charity Commission's mind about its duty to prevent such transfers and having the authority to do so."

He added, "Donations to illegal settlements should nullify their charitable status and lead to individual prosecutions. If legislation is needed, we must implement it."