UK Charity Commission moves against CAA, investigates UK Lawyers for Israel over Israel lobbying

The UK's Charity Commission has taken on Wednesday regulatory action against the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) after a complaint by CAGE International, which accused the organisation of acting as a political lobby for Israel under the guise of charity.

The Commission confirmed that the CAA had been issued a remedial Action Plan under section 15(2) of the Charities Act 2011, requiring its trustees to address governance and compliance concerns following allegations that the group's activities breach charity law.

The decision follows a detailed submission by CAGE earlier this year against both the CAA and UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The complaint accused the two organisations of defending and promoting Israel's apartheid and genocidal policies while using vexatious legal tactics to harass and silence pro-Palestinian voices across the UK.

According to CAGE, both groups have systematically weaponised complaint systems against universities, employers, and professionals who express support for Palestine, contributing to what the organisation calls "state-led repression of solidarity activism".

The Charity Commission’s intervention marks the second regulatory consequence stemming from CAGE's complaint.

In September, the Commission launched an investigation into the UKLFI Charitable Trust, the fundraising arm of UK Lawyers for Israel, after finding that "some of its activities may fall outside the scope of its charitable objectives".

A Commission spokesperson confirmed that it would monitor both groups closely to ensure compliance with charity law, following growing public concern over how pro-Israel lobby groups use charitable structures to advance political aims and suppress Palestine advocacy.

CAGE’s 2025 report, "Britain’s Apartheid Apologists", described the CAA and UKLFI as "the legal and media infrastructure sustaining Israel's apartheid regime in the UK".

The report detailed how both entities work to legitimise Israeli state violence while targeting activists, academics, and journalists who expose human rights abuses in Gaza and the West Bank.

Anas Mustapha, CAGE's Head of Public Advocacy, welcomed the regulator's response but urged stronger action.

"The CAA has long acted as an enabler of state repression against Britons who oppose genocide," Mustapha said. "It operates as an extension of the State of Israel, undermining fundamental freedoms by intimidating, accusing, and silencing those who challenge the apartheid and colonial settler regime.

"The Charity Commission must act decisively to prevent both the CAA and UKLFI from masquerading as charities before further damage is done to its own credibility."

A broader pattern of politicised 'charities'

Both the CAA and UKLFI claim to fight antisemitism and promote human rights, but have faced mounting accusations of using these mandates to advance Israel's political agenda and suppress dissent.

UKLFI, which operates both as a limited company and a charitable trust, describes itself as a politically neutral legal network defending Israel's "legal rights". However, human rights lawyers and Palestinian advocacy groups accuse it of acting as a pro-Israel lobbying arm, known for strategic lawsuits and complaints aimed at intimidating activists and institutions supporting Palestinian rights.

UKLFI has also hosted extremist Israeli settler organisations such as Regavim, notorious for campaigns against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, further fuelling criticism that the group serves as a propaganda vehicle for Israel’s far-right.

The Charity Commission's scrutiny of both the CAA and UKLFI comes amid growing calls to regulate so-called "lawfare" operations - organisations accused of misusing legal tools to shield Israel from accountability while undermining free speech on Palestine.