Iran may be funding criminal anti-Israel UK group: Report

UK officials suggest that Palestine Action may be funded by a foreign entity, investigating if group receives money from Iran.

By World Israel News Staff

The British government is currently investigating a pro-Palestinian group, which often engages in criminal activity, including vandalism and the harassment of Jews, over suspicions that the entity is funded by Iran, according to UK media reports.

Palestine Action, a UK-based organization, is not a registered charity — meaning that it is not obligated to publicly disclose information about the sources of its funding.

The lack of transparency about the group’s finances has sparked concern among officials in the Home Office.

The organization promotes “direction action” to support Palestinians, which often includes violent intimidation of Jews and Israelis, as well as damaging property affiliated with Israeli companies in the UK.

Last Friday, activists from the group broke into a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two fighter jets red, in what they claim was an act to raise awareness about alleged British complicity in the suffering of Gazans.

That act was condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and triggered Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to suggest Palestine Action may be designated as a terrorist organization by Parliament.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said a foreign entity could be funding Palestine Action.

“It is extremely concerning they gained access to that base, and the Defense Secretary is doing an immediate review of how that happened,” Reynolds said.

In a statement to the media, the group denied it has ties to Iran.

“The Home Office did not inform us of their sham investigation, nor did they consult us on proscription,” a spokesperson for Palestine Action told The National outlet on Tuesday.

“It is baseless and utterly ridiculous to suggest we are receiving funding from Iran.”

The potential designation of Palestine Action as a terror group was welcomed by the Jewish advocacy group The Campaign Against Antisemitism.

“Nobody should be surprised that those who vandalized Jewish premises with impunity have now been emboldened to sabotage RAF jets,” The Campaign Against Antisemitism said in a media statement.

anti-Israel activismantisemitic vandalismPalestine ActionUnited Kingdom