The Board of Deputies of British Jews has apologised to the UK-registered Palestinian relief charity Interpalover allegations published on its website.

Press Release

Interpal Wins Libel Case Against Board of Deputies of British Jews

22 December 2005

The Trustees of Interpal, the UK-registered Palestinian relief charity, have today concluded a successful out-of-court settlement of libel proceedings brought against the Board of Deputies of British Jews over allegations published on the Board’s website in September 2003.

The offending article referred to Interpal as a ‘terrorist organisation’ and the Board thereafter spent over two years attempting to defend that description. However, the Board has now, in a statement that is to be published on the homepage of its website for the next 28 days, accepted that it should not have described Interpal in the way it did and has expressed its regret at the upset and distress caused by its words. It has also formally undertaken not to republish the allegation in question at any time in the future.

The precise terms of settlement are to remain confidential at the insistence of the Board of Deputies.

Interpal’s Chairman of Trustees Ibrahim Hewitt said today: “We are extremely pleased to have won such an important and long-running battle. Regrettably, there are many in the world who want to stop the work that we and others like us do to reduce the terrible sufferings of the Palestinian people and their efforts would have been greatly assisted had we not been able to clear Interpal’s name. We are glad that we can now put the Board of Deputies’ attack upon the charity behind us and can focus our energies entirely upon Interpal’s essential relief work.”

All enquiries to Cameron Doley of Carter-Ruck on 020 7353 5005.


News arrow-right-alt