THE Campaign Against anti-semitism (CAA) has been slammed by the Charity Commission following a series of pro-Israel comments.

The charity has faced criticism over conflating anti-semitism with zionism and in September 2024 described the government’s partial arms embargo on Israel as “obscene.”

Labour MP and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell complained to the commission that the CAA was engaging in “highly political and contentious public attacks on the government and individual government ministers.”

Responding in a letter, the regulator said that it had “determined that it is appropriate to provide advice and guidance to ensure that the trustees comply with their legal duties and responsibilities and the law.”

It added that it was not clear that all the content within the CAA statement “furthered the charity’s objectives” and that the charity’s trustees had not provided “sufficient documentation” relating to the decision to publish the statement. 

The letter, which was sent last September but recently revealed by the Middle East Eye, saw the CAA issue a “remedial action plan” requiring trustees to “improve the administration, management and governance of the CAA in light of the concerns raised and our findings set out above.” 

The commission added that it had received further, separate complaints about the charity including “the manner in which complaints were submitted by the charity about Dr Campbell to his employer Goldsmiths University in 2023.”

Ray Campbell was suspended for five months after the CAA accused him of posting anti-semitic content on social media. Goldsmiths dismissed all allegations against him and apologised.

Jewish Voice for Liberation (JVL) accused the charity of acting as a “highly politically partisan organisation” in a complaint filed with the commission in April 2020.

The case was closed in May 2024 because JVL “has not demonstrated it has the required legal standing to make such an application.”

JVL secretary Jenny Mason told the Morning Star: “The Charity Commission’s action in response to the CAA’s accusation that the UK’s government’s minor arms trade restrictions were anti-semitic is very welcome.

“That dangerous conflation of criticism of Israel with anti-semitism is still endemic within political parties unquestioned by the mainstream media.”

The CAA has called the High Court ruling against the government’s ban on direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation an “appalling” decision.

It was contacted for comment.