The Charity Commission has dropped its investigation into anti-Semitism campaigning, four years after the regulator was asked to investigate allegations of political partisanship against the charity.
The left-leaning Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), which has been criticised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) including being called a “fake Jewish representative organisation”, lodged a complaint against the CAA with the commission in 2020.
JVL, which has dozens of members under investigation by the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitism, has previously said it was investigating the CAA, with the regulator telling the Guardian last year it had launched compliance proceedings against the charity.
But earlier this month, the commission wrote to JVL informing it that its application had been rejected because the company was not “a person affected or likely to be affected by a CAA registration.” Given the length of time it has taken, and the regulator’s earlier statements, JVL is upset.
Veteran human rights lawyer Sir Jeffrey Vindman KC said: “There is no dispute that political campaigns require investigation. The evidence provided by JVL is that the CAA challenges criticism of Israeli policies and practices towards Palestinians. This is clearly political.”
“While combating anti-Semitism and other forms of racism is clearly a legitimate charitable cause, attacking expression of opinion about Israel’s actions against Palestinians is not.”
The regulations for charities “If an organization’s purpose is political, it is not a charity.”
Labour MP John McDonnell, who has been criticised by the CAA in the past, and Rabbi Chaim Breyer, a community rabbi in north London, have also contacted the committee about an investigation into the CAA.
The CAA submitted its first report to the Equality and Human Rights Commission into antisemitism within the Labour Party, which led the watchdog to conclude that the party was responsible for unlawful harassment and discrimination.
During Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the CAA organised protests and petitions outside Labour HQ, but the wording was changed from Corbyn “must resign” to Labour “must act” after the Commission instructed it to change it “to ensure that our guidance on campaigning and political activity is followed” following a previous compliance incident.
In April, the CAA caused controversy by releasing a short video clip showing a Metropolitan police sergeant telling its chief executive, Gideon Falter, that he would not be allowed to cross a pro-Palestinian march in central London because he looked “obviously Jewish.” A longer version of the exchange explains that the officer was concerned that Falter might be trying to provoke a confrontation with the protesters.
In April, three MPs accused the Charity Commission of unlawful behaviour by failing to investigate a campaign by the Global Policy and Climate Change think tank which cast doubt on climate science.
A Charity Commission spokesman said: “We have already closed this compliance case after assessing the range of concerns raised and issuing advice and guidance to the charity.
“Following careful consideration of a specific request by Jewish Labour Voice to have its antisemitic campaign removed from the charity register, we have concluded that the organisation has not demonstrated that it has the necessary legal standing to make such an application. If Jewish Labour Voice disagrees with this decision, it can ask for the decision to be reviewed.”
CAA declined to comment.
