View source for Faith, Hope and Charity: The Interpal Story

{{short description|2017 book edited by [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] presenting the history of [[Interpal]], the [[Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]] charity}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Faith, Hope & Clarity: The [[Interpal]] Story
| author = [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] (editor)
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| subject = [[Interpal]]; humanitarian aid; Palestinian refugees; charity history
| publisher = [[Interpal]]
| pub_date = 2017
| pages = 146
| isbn = [Link not available — no verified source]
}}

'''Faith, Hope & Clarity: The [[Interpal]] Story''' is a book edited by [[Ibrahim Hewitt]], chair of the board of trustees of [[Interpal]] (the [[Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]]), that chronicles the charity's founding in 1994, its humanitarian and development work in the [[West Bank]], [[Gaza Strip]], [[Jordan]] and [[Lebanon]], and its responses to allegations of supporting terrorism.<ref name="InterpalBook">[[Ibrahim Hewitt]] (ed.), ''Faith, Hope & Clarity: The [[Interpal]] Story'', [[Interpal]].</ref>

The book includes personal accounts from founders and staff, details of [[UK Charity Commission]] investigations that found no evidence of illegal activity, and descriptions of projects providing relief, education, health and community support to Palestinians.

== Introduction ==

The introduction by [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] describes the 22 August 2003 [[United States]] designation of [[Interpal]] as a "specially-designated global terrorist entity" under President [[George W Bush]].

It was probably the defining moment of [[Interpal]]'s 20-plus years of existence and yet I had to read about it online. Nobody in the [[US]] administration bothered to let us know that the then President [[George W Bush]] was "freezing the assets" of a number of individuals and organisations "alleged to have provided support to [[Hamas]]". The first that I knew of it was when I read the [[BBC]] website on 22 August 2003. Amongst the names listed I saw "The Palestinians Relief and Development Fund, or [[Interpal]], based in Britain".

To say that I was shocked is an understatement. From that day to this, despite the serious nature of the allegation — and the extremely debilitating effect on [[Interpal]]'s ability to operate with normal banking facilities, essential for any charity — neither the [[US]] authorities nor the [[Israelis]] (from where the request for the charity to be listed as a "specially-designated global terrorist entity" originated) have ever provided a shred of credible evidence to back up the allegation.

The designation triggered the third of a number of investigations by the [[UK Charity Commission]], none of which have found evidence of any illegal activity by [[Interpal]]. The trustees welcomed all these efforts because, as a result, we believe that we are a much stronger organisation with robust policies and procedures in place to ensure that none of our funding goes astray.

That has not been enough for the [[US Treasury]] to remove [[Interpal]] from the terrorist list, though. Off the record, we have been told that the decision to place [[Interpal]] on the list in the first place came through the [[US State Department]]. "It was entirely a political decision, which will require another political decision to reverse it." That is probably never going to happen.

[[Interpal]] has thus laboured under the "terrorist entity" label for almost 15 years, during which time we have gone from strength to strength as a one-issue charity helping Palestinians in desperate need. As the chair of [[Interpal]], I have been privileged to travel the world — the [[US]], [[Canada]], [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[South Africa]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]] and [[New Zealand]] — representing the charity; I have met royalty and ministers, and written and spoken on the [[Palestine]] issue widely at home and abroad. If there was any substance at all to the [[US]]-[[Israeli]] allegations, would that have been possible? As one senior [[Metropolitan Police]] Special Branch officer commented, “the absence of any police involvement [in [[Interpal]]’s case] is hugely significant.”

Our small charity has also benefited from the support of many people in prominent positions in their respective fields; from politicians and surgeons, to media personalities and activists, [[Interpal]] has found some wonderful friends. They understand the incredible difference that our efforts make to ordinary Palestinians in the refugee camps of occupied [[Palestine]], [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Syria]].

[[Interpal]] is caught in an extremely politicised situation, both in the field and with regards to our status, and yet as a charitable organisation we are prohibited from having too much involvement in politics. A great deal of our time and resources are spent on refuting terrorism allegations, which the right-wing media regurgitate from time to time; this is probably one of the reasons why they are made, keeping us busy and away from the task in hand of helping Palestinians.

From the charity’s early days in the light of the [[Oslo Accords]], through allegations of wrongdoing, to growing support across a broad section of society, [[Interpal]] has seen its humanitarian aid make a real difference to the lives of Palestinians in its main areas of operation. [[Interpal]] has also witnessed small development projects grow into the pillars of many refugee and other destitute communities: schools, clinics, employment programmes and universities funded by [[Interpal]] are now indispensable to their users.

Where once [[Interpal]] was just one of a handful of international NGOs in the field, there are now many more. It is not unusual to visit a project funded by the charity and find plaques and certificates acknowledging support from other well-known NGOs, including [[USAID]]; yes, the [[US]] government funds the same projects as [[Interpal]] and yet it still judges the latter to be a “terrorist entity”, such is the absurd situation in which the charity finds itself.

In our fund-raising and distribution, though, we put that to one side. [[Interpal]]'s trustees and staff work hard to ensure that the charitable aims of the organisation are fulfilled, and that as much help as possible is given to our beneficiaries. Politicians come and go, but the needs of the Palestinians get worse every day, often due to the inaction of the former who could improve the living conditions of the latter but choose not to, for all sorts of reasons.

Much has been said and written about [[Interpal]] and its trustees; some of it is accurate; a great deal is not. The purpose of this book is to tell [[Interpal]]'s side of the story so that readers can make their own minds up about the veracity, or otherwise, of the [[Israeli]]-[[American]] allegations.

We also hope that readers will get an insight into the sort of work that [[Interpal]]'s staff in the field carry out on a daily basis, as the charity strives to bring a degree of normality into the lives of Palestinians who exist in anything but normal conditions. [[Interpal]] is a human endeavour, so is always seeking ways to improve in both the organisation and delivery of its humanitarian aid. That the charity is still thriving is a testament to the dedication of [[Interpal]]'s staff and supporters and the patent falsehood of the allegations against it.

The trustees of [[Interpal]] look forward to the day when our name is cleared and the charity's reputation is restored, God-Willing; and pray for the day when NGOs like [[Interpal]] are no longer needed because the Palestinians are living in their own land in freedom. Until that day arrives, however, we know what we have to do, and we will continue to do whatever we can to help Palestinians in desperate need; that has been our sole aim since the charity was formed in 1994, and it remains true to this day.

Enjoy our story. We certainly have.

[[Ibrahim Hewitt]]
Chair of the Board of Trustees, [[Interpal]]<ref name="InterpalBook" />

== [[Interpal]] is born ==

[[Interpal]]'s roots go back to the early 1980s, in the aftermath of the 1982 attack by a Christian Lebanese militia, allied to the [[Israel Defence Forces]], on the Palestinian refugee camps of [[Sabra and Shatila]] in West [[Beirut]]. The resulting massacre left between 3,000 and 3,500 Palestinian men, women and children dead, and highlighted the desperate plight of displaced Palestinians in [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]].

[[Essam Yousef]], who went on to become [[Interpal]]'s managing trustee and vice chairman, was then a young Palestinian studying computer science in [[London]]. Like many other expatriate Palestinians in the diaspora he wanted to do something, anything, to help. "Being Palestinians and living with relative freedom in [[Britain]]," he says, "we saw that there was an opportunity to work for the people of [[Palestine]]." His particular "something" was to mobilise a group of like-minded people and open a new British charity. The [[Palestine and Lebanon Relief Fund]] ([[PLRF]]) duly came into being in late 1982.

The going was tough in the early days for this forerunner of [[Interpal]]. Its first collection, at [[Regent's Park Mosque]] in [[London]], only raised around £200. While fund-raising soon improved, the charity was faced with the challenge of building up networks for fund distribution within occupied [[Palestine]] and the surrounding countries.

The [[PLRF]] team decided that the most practical way to get assistance to the neediest people was to support worthwhile projects being carried out by charities already operating inside the occupied [[Palestine]] territories, or in the refugee camps in [[Jordan]], [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]]. The utmost care was taken to demonstrate that the charities involved directed funds towards humanitarian and social projects. This was essential, given the view among some [[Israeli]] politicians and journalists that such charitable donations were funding terrorism: “Alms or arms?” was the cry.

In this respect, the close control that the [[Israeli]] government exerted over all aspects of charitable activity in the occupied Palestinian areas, while creating its own problems, also had advantages for the [[PLRF]], as it provided the clearest possible guarantee that funds were going where they were supposed to go. All transfers to charities in the occupied Palestinian areas had to be routed through the [[Israeli]] financial system. What's more, all of the partner charities were registered, recognised and, effectively, controlled by the [[Israeli]] state; in some cases in the [[West Bank]], they were also registered with the [[Jordanian]] authorities.

“In no way would [[Israel]] have allowed us to misuse money,” explains [[Essam Yousef]]. “The best protection we had was provided by the [[Israeli]] security agencies. They monitored the whole thing and they would not, in any way, have allowed organisations to use money for any non-charitable purposes, such as buying arms.”

=== The [[First Intifada]]: a major turning point ===

The [[PLRF]] built up its funding programmes steadily throughout its first five years of existence, but it was another tragedy that really underlined the need for the kind of support for Palestinians that the charity was able to provide. The [[First Intifada]] – which lasted from December 1987 until 1993 – was a major turning point in establishing the Palestinians as actors in their own cause. The human cost of this was high, with confrontations between Palestinian demonstrators and the [[Israeli]] security forces leading to deaths, horrific injuries and the further displacement of the population.

“The [[Intifada]] caught the attention of the world, and the whole world wanted to help,” recalls [[Essam Yousef]]. “At that time, we started to look at how the [[PLRF]] could become more involved with helping Palestinians within [[Palestine]] itself, which was, by then, totally controlled by the [[Israelis]].”

By early 1988, it was clear that the [[Israel]] security forces were targeting young Palestinian men and breaking their arms deliberately — an act caught at least once on camera — to prevent them from throwing stones. This stung [[Essam Yousef]] into action. He organised a meeting with well-known Muslim convert [[Yusuf Islam]] — the former [[Cat Stevens]] — who put together a delegation of British Muslim to visit [[Israel]] and the occupied Palestinian territories to see for themselves what was happening to the people of [[Palestine]].

The visit was a life-changer for one member of the group. [[Yusuf Islam]]'s PA at the time was [[Ibrahim Hewitt]], who went on to become a committed advocate of the Palestinian struggle for justice and, in 1996, a trustee of [[Interpal]]. He has now been chairman of the charity for more than 20 years. A report of the delegation's visit in March 1988 was published under the title "Blood on the Holy Land".

"This was before the 'Separation Wall' was built," he notes, "so we had fairly easy access throughout [[Israel]] and the occupied Palestinian territories. What we witnessed was shocking; a real eye-opener. By the time the call came to join [[Interpal]], I had been back to the region on a couple of other visits, and so was well aware of the desperate conditions faced by Palestinians, and the equally desperate need to do something to help them."

The Iraqi invasion of [[Kuwait]] in 1991 focused further attention on the plight of the Palestinians, as it triggered a wave of migrants from [[Iraq]] and the [[Gulf states]]. More than 300,000 Palestinians moved to [[Jordan]], having lost their jobs and incomes in the [[Gulf]]. They were, once again, refugees in a strange land.

The [[Madrid Peace Conference]] of 1991 and the [[Oslo Accords]] I and II signed by the [[Israeli]] government and the [[Palestine Liberation Organisation]] in 1993 and 1995 created a new spirit of hope that the Palestinians might secure new freedoms. The creation of the [[Palestinian Authority]] to provide a degree of autonomy for parts of the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]], appeared to provide the conditions for a more effective distribution of humanitarian aid.

=== Biography: [[Essam Yousef]] ===

The founding trustee of [[Interpal]], [[Essam Yousef]], was born in the small village of [[Burqa]], north of the historic city of [[Nablus]], in 1955. A close knit family of five brothers and two sisters, his parents ran a small, well-watered farm harvesting olive trees and other crops. They led a tranquil if demanding life which was interrupted by the [[Six Day War]] in June 1967, and the start of [[Israel]]'s military occupation of the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]].

For the 12 year old [[Essam Yousef]], the war was to leave its mark. He could remember the terror of the [[Israeli]] air attacks and watching an [[Israeli]] plane, high in the blue sky, lazily looking for targets; the experience traumatised him for several days. Little could he know that in later years he would be instrumental in helping Palestinian children in the [[Gaza Strip]], in particular, who continue to suffer from trauma following three major [[Israeli]] offensives and almost daily incursions against the enclave.

During the 1967 war, [[Essam Yousef]]'s uncle was in the [[Jordanian]] army. He left his older son with [[Essam Yousef]]'s family in the village as he was living in another town with his family. When he went to collect his son, he asked [[Essam Yousef]]'s family if one his brothers could go with him and stay with the rest of his family while the war was going on. When the war ended, the uncle drove his army vehicle back to [[Burqa]] with his nephew. They came across an [[Israeli]] army convoy, which [[Essam Yousef]]'s uncle thought belonged to an Arab group as it was flying [[Iraqi]] and [[Jordanian]] flags. The [[Israeli]] soldiers opened fire, hitting [[Essam Yousef]]'s brother and his uncle. Although both recovered from their wounds, the experience affected the whole family.

They had all had enough. The presence of the occupiers became increasingly more threatening. It was decided that they should all head for [[Jordan]], despite the distress felt by [[Essam Yousef]]'s grandfather at leaving his family's traditional land. This journey ended up in [[Kuwait]].

In [[Kuwait]], [[Essam Yousef]] became increasingly aware of the implications of the [[Israeli]] occupation and the Palestinian struggle for their land. He studied at a special school run by the [[Palestine Liberation Organisation]] and he became involved in the charity sector even before the opportunity arose for him to move to [[London]] and complete his education. He travelled frequently between [[London]] and his family in [[Kuwait]], where he happened to be when [[Iraq]] invaded in 1990. The new pressures on the Palestinians caused by the invasion and the subsequent [[Gulf War]] were quickly obvious to him. Many Palestinians in the occupied territories and the pitiful refugee camps across the region depended on remittances from family members living and working in the [[Gulf]]. For too many, these dried up post-invasion.

Back in [[London]], [[Essam Yousef]] was now married and had a young family. Studying computer science he also became involved in serious charitable work with his [[International Islamic Charitable Foundation]]. This was followed by the [[Palestine and Lebanon Relief Fund]], which he founded in 1984, partly in response to the [[Israeli]] invasion of [[Lebanon]] and the massacre of defenceless refugees in [[Beirut]]'s [[Sabra and Shatila]] camps. The well-documented atrocities had a huge impact on him.

Post-[[Oslo Accords]] he was motivated further and a new initiative was required to help the growing number of Palestinians in need – not only to provide humanitarian aid and relief, but also to help shattered communities to rebuild their lives and infrastructure. [[Interpal]] was born.

[[Essam Yousef]] is now a respected elder statesman of the Palestinian community in [[Britain]] and beyond known by his kunya of Abu [[Yousef]]. Key players in the charitable sector across [[Europe]] and the [[Middle East]] working with and for the people of [[Palestine]] hold him in high regard for his campaigning work and tireless efforts on behalf of those in need.<ref name="InterpalBook" />

=== First steps ===

In 1992, the [[British]] government altered the way that UK-based charities were required to operate. A change in the law meant that charities above a certain size had to register with the Charity Commissioner.

It was this which, in 1993-94, prompted the [[PLRF]] team to start up a new charity. The name chosen was the “[[International Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]]” which reflected the ambition to act as a coordinator for international aid efforts across the region. While the [[PLRF]] would continue to operate separately for several years in parallel, the new charity designed for a new era would be the main fund-raising body for Palestinian aid projects.

Mindful of the need to come up with a pithier name to make the organisation more memorable and marketable, one of the charity's accountants suggested a shortened version to do just that: [[Interpal]] was born. This was a name which embraced the idea of international friendship among “pals”, as well as among Palestinians.

“From day one, the trustees knew that working with [[Palestine]] was going to be difficult,” says [[Jihad Qundil]], [[Interpal]]'s Chief Executive Officer, who has been with the charity since the very beginning. “We went through a lawyer to register the charity and were initially rejected. It took a second application before registration was approved.”

When the charity was registered in July 1994, the word “international” was removed from its official name, due to the complications involved in registering an international charity. As a result, the organisation became the [[Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]]; the working name, though, was already in common use, so [[Interpal]] it was, and [[Interpal]] it still is.

The charity was launched at [[Willesden Library]] in north-west [[London]] on 5 November, 1994. “We wanted the launch to be public and in a place that was local to us,” explains [[Essam Yousef]]. “Our first offices were nearby in [[Cricklewood]], next to [[Brent Mosque]] and Islamic Centre, so the library was an obvious choice.”

The launch was a high-profile occasion with invitees including leading British Muslim figures of the time and other friends of the Palestinian cause. Time was of the essence as the new charity wanted to gain maximum exposure for its work in the peak campaigning season of [[Ramadan]], which was only three months away in February 1995.

The charity’s vision was to “empower Palestinians to face their challenges and hardships” in its principal areas of operation: the [[West Bank]], the [[Gaza Strip]] and the refugee camps of [[Jordan]] and [[Lebanon]]. This was to be done by alleviating their suffering and disadvantage through immediate relief and also to support Palestinian communities through long-term development programmes.

From the start, the objective was to be a highly professional and trusted non-political organisation, whose activities were transparent and could withstand any amount of scrutiny. This openness was viewed as vital, given the mistrust with which any new organisation of this type was likely to be viewed by [[Israel]] and its international friends.

The make-up of [[Interpal]]’s first Board of Trustees reflected this careful approach, including respected figures from diverse backgrounds, including not just Palestinians, but also representatives from [[Egypt]], [[Mauritius]] and [[Iraq]] among other countries. They had to prepare for the likelihood that [[Interpal]]’s activities would receive more scrutiny than those of other charities operating in less contentious areas.

=== Early challenges ===

Establishing [[Interpal]] had been a complex and time-consuming process, but that was just a precursor to the challenge of turning the charity’s visions into concrete actions, as practical work started in January 1995.

Many of [[Interpal]]'s core personnel had the benefit of years of experience with the [[PLRF]], including extensive operations in [[Palestine]] and the refugee camps; it was a background of which few other charities in the [[West]] could boast. "In the early days, we were seen as the specialist charity for [[Palestine]]. Those who wanted to work in [[Palestine]] would come to us for advice," [[Jihad Qundil]] points out.

"What's more," adds [[Essam Yousef]], "we were prepared to give our experience to other charities working with Palestinians, such as [[Islamic Relief]] and [[Muslim Hands]], as we could help them to achieve much greater things than we, as a small charity, could on our own."

As for [[Interpal]]'s operations themselves, these soon adopted the blueprint which still underpins the charity's work today. The underlying principle has always been to devote a large portion of [[Interpal]]'s resources to building the foundations that allow Palestinians to improve their own lives, rather than just acting as a relief agency, or targeting the development of high-profile projects that might attract donors.

According to [[Essam Yousef]], the general policy has always been that, where possible, [[Interpal]] kick-starts a project that it can persuade others to adopt and build on. "Once it has been adopted, we move on to another project. We don't want to keep repeating what other organisations can do more easily, once we have shown the way."

So, for example, [[Interpal]] might use its expertise and connections to acquire land on which civic amenities can be built. It leaves others with deeper pockets to build a school, hospital or community venue on the land, even though donors to [[Interpal]] might find the hospital project itself a more alluring beneficiary of their funds.

"A project like that might be marketable for us in terms of its ability to increase our level of donations, but we would rather be doing something new, something that others are not yet doing, because that can make the biggest difference," says [[Essam Yousef]].

[[Interpal]] has also used its expertise to help locally-based charities within Palestinian communities to become strong enough to act as hubs, which can then be more useful to international charities. Cleverly, it has helped them to be able to market themselves. The more capable that these organisations become, the more funds can be given to them. This is the way that [[Interpal]] has worked across its areas of operation since it was founded.

While this was going on, [[Interpal]]'s senior staff built up their already deep knowledge of the areas in which the charity was operating. This meant that they could be quite sure that the aid the charity provided would, in fact, reach the right people, even in regions where operations could be hampered by the inadequacy of local administrative structures or the hurdles imposed by the [[Israeli]] occupation.

This led to [[Interpal]] starting to take supporters and influential members of the Muslim community to “Bear Witness” to what the money raised by the charity was being used for. “The only way for our staff, trustees and supporters in [[Britain]] to be informed and involved was to witness what we were doing on the ground,” explains [[Essam Yousef]], “so we took them to the region regularly and still do. We have always had our finger on the pulse to know how things are working.”

=== Turbulent times ===

The task of building up [[Interpal]]'s operations soon got tougher, as the early optimism over the peace process engendered by the [[Oslo Accords]] fizzled out much quicker than anyone had imagined. Any notion that Palestinians were going to be able to rebuild their lives in tranquility was dispelled when a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks by Palestinian groups hit [[Israel]] from 1994 to 1996, believed to be a response to the killing of 29 Muslims in [[Hebron]]'s [[Ibrahimi Mosque]] in February 1994 by a Jewish settler, and the January 1996 assassination of [[Yahya Ayyash]] in [[Gaza]] by the [[Israeli]] security services. The bombings prompted [[Israel]]'s military forces to attack Palestinians with even more ferocity than usual. The peace process involving [[Yasser Arafat]] was effectively scuppered.

[[Interpal]] was among the charities operating in the occupied Palestinian territories which became the target of claims that the money they sent to the region was being re-directed towards suicide bombers rather than development projects. Such claims lacked any credible evidence, but they were given prominent media coverage.

In March 1996, [[Britain]]'s [[Charity Commission]] decided to investigate [[Interpal]]'s activities following newspaper articles making such allegations of illegal activities. This was the first of several such probes which went on to form a challenging backdrop against which the charity had to carry on with its mission to support the humanitarian and social development needs of Palestinians in desperate need.<ref name="InterpalBook" />

== Reputation challenged ==

=== Historical background to the humanitarian crisis in occupied [[Palestine]] ===

The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has to be viewed within its historical context. One hundred years after [[Britain]]'s then Foreign Secretary [[Arthur Balfour]] issued his “[[Balfour Declaration]]” promising the government's support for “the establishment in [[Palestine]] of a national home for the Jewish people”, the people of [[Palestine]] have seen their political and civil rights eroded systematically, first by the colonial powers and, since 1948, by the State of [[Israel]].

The creation of [[Israel]] in [[Palestine]] up to and including 1948, resulted in the displacement (it has been called “ethnic cleansing”) of more than 700,000 Palestinians — 80 per cent of the indigenous population — who were expelled from their homes and fled to become refugees in neighbouring states, the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]]. What followed was the systematic destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages to complete the first stage of what Palestinians call the “[[Nakba]]” (Catastrophe). Thousands more were displaced or found themselves living under [[Israeli]] occupation as a result of the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967. International laws, conventions and resolutions make it clear that these refugees have a legal right to return to their homes inside what is now [[Israel]].

According to [[Amnesty International]], the [[Israeli]] occupation of [[Palestine]] represents a period of “humiliation, discrimination and oppression, forced evictions, unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on movement and collective punishment for many Palestinians, with more than 1,000km² of Palestinian land... stolen to build illegal [[Israeli]] settlements, which continue to expand.” It is estimated that upwards of 50,000 Palestinian homes have been destroyed and replaced by buildings on [[Israeli]] settlement for the 500,000 illegal settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.<ref name="InterpalBook" />

=== Difficulties facing the Palestinians today ===

Palestinians face daily humiliation at the hands of [[Israel]]'s occupation forces. This can take the form of the "Separation Wall" which cuts them off from their schools, hospitals and work places, to the hundreds of fixed and flying checkpoints scattered across the occupied [[West Bank]], and having to show their identity documents to any [[Israeli]] soldier who demands to see them. It includes the demolition of homes and farms, and being banned from entering [[Jerusalem]] to pray in such significant sites as [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] and the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]].

Those Palestinians with permits to work inside [[Israel]] face the daily prospect of having to queue from as early as 2am in order to get through the checkpoints in the Wall; this process can take several hours.

The Palestinian economy is in tatters, with rampant unemployment affecting almost every family. Economic woes also affect Palestinians in the refugee camps of [[Lebanon]] and [[Jordan]], where various government policies mean that they are unable to own property or work in 70+ occupations ([[Lebanon]]) or face difficulties in education, health and welfare in what is a country with a high cost of living ([[Jordan]]).

Since 2006, the Palestinians in the [[Gaza Strip]] have been subjected to a near-total land, sea and air blockade imposed by [[Israel]] and backed by [[Egypt]]. Unemployment in the enclave is at record levels and increasing numbers of people live on or below the official poverty line of $2 per day.

Conditions in the territory have been worsened by a number of [[Israeli]] military offensives; a great deal of the infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, and the blockade means that spare parts and building materials are not available to get things working again. Electricity is only available for a few hours every day and more than 90 per cent of the water is unfit for human consumption, according to [[World Health Organisation]] standards.

Hospitals have also been damaged, and medicines and medical disposables are in extremely short supply. Patients requiring life-saving surgery are more often than not prevented by the blockade from leaving [[Gaza]] for treatment in hospitals in [[Israel]], [[Egypt]] or further afield. Students with places in overseas universities have often been unable to take up the study offers due to the imposition of travel restrictions.

The blockade is having a devastating effect on the population. The [[UN]] has said that the enclave will be “unliveable” by 2020 unless urgent action is taken immediately. Many people would argue that the [[Gaza Strip]] has already hit the cut-off point.

> "The Blockade of [[Gaza]], which entered its tenth year in 2016, continued to undermine basic human rights and economic prospects, as well as the availability of essential services, exacerbating poverty and aid dependency."

Report of the [[UN]] Secretary-General, 30 August 2016<ref name="InterpalBook" />

=== Mid-1990s – the first [[Charity Commission]] investigation ===

This major advance in the peace process set the context within which [[Interpal]] was established and sought to enhance the social and economic welfare of Palestinians in the region. Yet even in this encouraging ambiance, from the outset the trustees of [[Interpal]] were well aware of the scale of the challenges that they would face. From the moment of its registration as a charity in July 1994, [[Interpal]] had to develop its activities against the background of a difficult diplomatic and political environment, and considerable public scepticism about the Palestinian cause.

[[Interpal]]'s principal initial task was thus to provide relief and development assistance to a beleaguered population which had lived through the harsh conditions resulting from over fifty years of suffering. This suffering had become pronounced during the latter stages of the [[First Intifada]]. The charity recognised that unemployment and malnutrition in the [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]] were on the increase, that the infant mortality rate had reached unprecedented levels and that it would need to develop a strategy to alleviate the consequential suffering. It also worked with the knowledge that there were significant numbers of Palestinian refugees in [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Syria]], and that while they had similar problems, they also had the distinct needs of people living in forced exile. This, the trustees agreed, dictated that the provision of relief in [[Palestine]]'s neighbouring states should be part of the charity's remit.

To put some perspective on the size of the task confronting [[Interpal]] and other NGOs working in the region, it is important to note that the estimated number of refugees across the camps in [[Jordan]] and [[Lebanon]] alone was just short of 3 million. In [[Jordan]], the bulk of the refugees were living in crowded urban dwellings within [[UN]]-recognised camps while in [[Lebanon]], Palestinians were denied any real assistance from the government.

In order to ensure effective aid delivery, [[Interpal]] identified four main areas of concern:

* The desperate need for food for the poor and under-nourished.
* Poor health facilities and a lack of medical resources.
* Desperate shortage of adequate educational provision.
* The growing need for rehabilitation facilities due to injuries and disabilities.

[[Interpal]] understood from the outset that its role was to support and help to rebuild the existing social and economic infrastructure within [[Palestine]] in order to ensure that local communities should one day be able to move away from a culture of dependency. It was always [[Interpal]]'s purpose to provide multi-dimensional aid to ensure that every strata of Palestinian society benefitted from its humanitarian relief and development work. It has therefore been a key component of the charity's strategy to make use of local skills, produce and materials.

Contrary to expectations, the [[Oslo Accords]] led to a continued and heightened conflict in the region, with restrictions imposed by the [[Israeli]] occupying forces creating a desperate climate of deprivation and humanitarian need. [[Britain]]'s [[House of Commons]] [[International Development Committee]] reported in the spring of 2004: "Rates of malnutrition in [[Gaza]] and parts of the [[West Bank]] are as bad as anywhere one would find in sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. The Palestinian economy has all but collapsed with unemployment rates in the region of 60-70% with many of those who are employed, dependent upon NGOs or international relief organisations for employment."

[[Interpal]]'s commitment during this period was to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in need by focusing on their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. The trustees, however, recognised that effective aid delivery meant responding efficiently and effectively to the changing needs of the charity's beneficiaries and for this reason they initially provided mainly emergency relief, including medical supplies. This was extended during the [[Ramadan]] and [[Eid Al-Adha]] seasons to provide additional financial and moral support through the sponsorship of needy children, the disabled and poor families. Critical to this programme was the need to uphold the ethos of non-discrimination; aid was given solely on the basis of need, regardless of faith, ethnic and cultural background or, for that matter, the actions of beneficiaries' relatives, many of whom were often in prison.

It was in recognition of the worsening situation under [[Israel]]'s occupation of the Palestinian territories that the trustees resolved to expand [[Interpal]]'s commitment to development relief. They noted that in the earlier phases of its work, much had been done to help widows and orphans, but that more needed to be done to help impoverished families and poor students, and to assist in the regeneration of depressed and disillusioned communities. This resulted in the development of more community-based and multidimensional projects, with resources deployed to assist and support local community organisations and service providers.

Projects included backing for local NGOs and the establishment and maintenance of welfare centres for the elderly; support for orphanages, kindergartens, schools and universities; assistance for basic developmental, vocational and specialised training programmes; funding for job creation programmes; and help to preserve the cultural and religious heritage of [[Palestine]], with special regard for the Noble Sanctuary of [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]].

The establishment of close relationships with working partners on the ground in the early days was crucial to [[Interpal]]'s ability to respond swiftly to emergency situations. When the Second ("[[Al-Aqsa]]") [[Intifada]] erupted on 28 September 2000, the charity was able to respond within hours, mounting an international campaign to raise funds to meet the immediate special needs of the Palestinian people, including the provision of emergency medical facilities, food and shelter. With huge numbers involved in clashes with the [[Israeli]] security forces, [[Interpal]]'s local insight enabled it to launch a crisis appeal promptly. It duly established a fully operational emergency response unit which could provide medical care, fire rescue and control, and ambulance service support in collaboration with one of its international partners in the region. Financial support was also earmarked for the large number of casualties and victims of the conflict, including families who had lost their breadwinners. The project was so successful that it formed a blueprint which has been copied by many other emergency aid programmes and charitable organisations providing assistance to the needy in [[Palestine]].

[[Interpal]]'s establishment of the [[Al-Durrah Fund]] – named after twelve-year-old [[Muhammad Al-Durrah]] who was shot and killed by [[Israeli]] soldiers on 30 September 2000 in front of the world's media — was a recognition of the need for a specific focus on long-term support for child victims of the crisis.

Similarly, [[Interpal]]'s One-to-One sponsorship programme developed into one of its largest ongoing humanitarian projects, providing a small monthly allowance to over 4,000 Palestinian orphans, needy children, disabled people and poor families. The programme had two primary goals: to provide essential humanitarian relief aid, and the provision of psychological and moral support to the most vulnerable in Palestinian society. The direct support from sponsors and donors continues to provide a ray of hope and a window to the world for the Palestinians whose lives it touches. Little gifts, letters or photographs from their sponsors are often a source of immense pride and pleasure to the sponsored children and families.<ref name="InterpalBook" />

=== Operating in a difficult environment ===

In 1995 and early 1996, [[Israel]] suffered a series of suicide bombings. These led some media outlets to speculate that charities funding welfare projects in [[Palestine]] could – knowingly or unknowingly – be financing terrorism. [[Interpal]] found itself among those facing such allegations, despite its small size. In the mid-to-late 1990s, it was typically handling only around £1 million-1.5 million a year in donations.

Even where the accusations fell short of claiming that the organisation funded terrorism, they implied that [[Interpal]] was effectively providing a welfare scheme for the families of dead suicide bombers, simply because it provided support for single parent families, based on their need, as part of its assistance programme. [[Interpal]] noted that families which were without breadwinners, for any reason, were more likely to require charitable aid. Some critics even implied that by providing aid to any Palestinian children at all, [[Interpal]] was supporting the development of a future generation of suicide bombers.

As [[Carl Arrindell]], a journalist at the UK's [[Islam Channel]] who has worked with [[Interpal]], puts it: “If [[Interpal]] sponsored thousands of orphans in [[Palestine]], out of which two or three were found to have a great uncle who was a suicide bomber then, to some, that made [[Interpal]] a supporter of terrorism. But [[Interpal]]'s argument has always been the same as that of any doctor: that it would not discriminate against a child because of the actions of his or her relatives.”

However implausible most of the arguments against the charity were – particularly given the absence of any credible evidence to support the allegations of financing terrorism – the attacks still left their mark on [[Interpal]]'s reputation.

Hence, in March 1996, little more than a year after [[Interpal]] had been launched, the organisation found itself the subject of what was to be the first of several investigations by the [[Charity Commission]], the body charged with registering and regulating charities in [[England]] and [[Wales]]. This first inquiry was triggered by allegations that the charity funded [[Hamas]] and had connections to a number of former [[Hamas]] militants.

That first experience of undergoing [[Charity Commission]] scrutiny lasted for almost four months. [[Interpal]] staff knew that, because of its areas of operation, the charity was certain to attract interest from the authorities. From the outset, therefore, they had been prepared for the possibility of such an investigation. Even so, the inquiry still imposed huge pressure on the employees who had to sustain [[Interpal]] operations, while being subjected to intense media attention and dealing with the Commission's demands for information and special administrative arrangements.

On launching its investigation, the [[Commission]] effectively took control of [[Interpal]]'s bank accounts. This complicated day-to-day management, because even routine transactions had to be signed off by the regulator.

The hostile tone of some media coverage at the time is well illustrated by an article that was published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' in May 1996, implying that the charity was run by [[Hamas]] activists who supported terrorist activities in [[Israel]]. In relation to [[Interpal]], the newspaper's article — headlined "[[London]] fatwa backs suicide bombers" and published on 26 May 1996 — said:

"Apart from publishing its monthly magazine, [[Hamas]] activists in [[London]] also run the [[Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]] ([[Interpal]]), which raises an estimated £1 million a year. [[Israeli]] officials claim to have proof that money raised by the charity has been used to fund the training of suicide bombers in [[Gaza]] and the [[West Bank]]. The fund is now under investigation by the [[Charity Commission]]."

These spuriously sourced and unsubstantiated assertions were later retracted. At the time, though, the story helped stoke perceptions that the [[Charity Commission]] investigation was based on hard evidence – implicitly, that there was “no smoke without fire” – even though this evidence was lacking.

During this period, [[Interpal]] was working in [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]] and the occupied Palestinian territories of the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]], but it only received complaints from [[Israel]], which referred to small charities assisting Palestinians as “underground organisations”. Founding trustee, Dr [[Essam Yousef]], points out that, “In reality, these charities were very open. They had their own offices; the [[Israelis]] could examine them whenever they liked.”

The trustees were already well aware that in supporting Palestinians, [[Interpal]] was rendering itself vulnerable to attack by some supporters of [[Israel]] or sceptics concerned about possible terrorist funding. They knew that the charity would probably be held to standards different from those used to judge charitable organisations tackling other issues in other places and that, just because it was operating in [[Palestine]], its routine activities would be questioned, whatever the reality might be.

[[Oliver McTernan]], Director of the consultancy [[Forward Thinking]], has a long track record of working on initiatives to bring opposing sides together in the [[Middle East]] and elsewhere. He says that it is hard to justify the idea that, merely by operating in the territories that a government rules, a charity is in some way supportive of that government. This has been a recurring accusation made against [[Interpal]] ever since [[Hamas]] won the 2006 Palestinian elections and been the de facto government in the [[Gaza Strip]].

"If, for example, being seen with the de facto leader of [[Gaza]] is seen as collusion, I think that's nonsense," he explains. "Any humanitarian organisation, working in a location such as [[Gaza]], has to understand that its own security is provided by the de facto government. They only can do their humanitarian work because there's a whole network of people guaranteeing their safety."

According to [[Oliver McTernan]], "Either you don't go in, or you go in and you work within the realities. And for me that's what [[Interpal]] has been trying to do. To work with the de facto local authority is not an endorsement of the political situation."

Over the years, [[Interpal]] has been well aware that it risked being accused of weak financial accountability by opponents, simply because it worked with the local [[Zakat Committees]] that oversee faith-based donations in the region. However, these committees are a pivotal and long-established part of Muslim communities; they provide a sort of local administrative hub for donations made as [[Zakat]], the regular charitable giving that [[Islam]] expects the faithful to undertake. The committees provide a highly effective avenue for targeting this personalised form of aid and ensuring that the money is used effectively. It would almost have been perverse for a fledgling international charity to exclude the [[Zakat Committees]] from being partners.

Nevertheless, while [[Interpal]] worked with the [[Zakat Committees]], it took care to ensure that these operations were documented properly, through unambiguous records that were in fact more detailed than the average charity might be expected to supply. "The [[Charity Commission]] was surprised," says Dr [[Essam Yousef]]. "Its staff could not believe how detailed our documentation was. We knew what sort of allegations would be made against us, so we had been very clean and honest. We told them that we didn't want them to have to come back time and time again."

The paperwork showed the precautions that [[Interpal]] had taken in order to make sure that financial allocations did actually go to the projects to which they had been assigned and were not at risk of being diverted elsewhere. CEO [[Jihad Qundil]] points out that [[Interpal]] was able to demonstrate that it only paid money across after the final reports and invoices were received. “We didn’t give money and then chase reports,” he explains. “That tells you we were working with partners who were very trustworthy and who, in turn, trusted us.”

[[Interpal]] would only authorise payments when its staff had seen invoices and evidence of payment to the end beneficiaries, which reduced risks to the minimum. This diligence extended to the day-to-day operations of the [[London]] office. [[Carl Arrindell]] recalls being ticked off for using the photocopier in the [[Interpal]] office unnecessarily, to ensure that as much money could go to the organisation’s charity activities: “I realised they were unbelievably serious, and because they were expecting to be scrutinised, there were duplicate copies of receipts for virtually everything they bought.” He holds the charity’s work in high regard. “I have worked with dozens of charities during my time with the [[Islam Channel]], but I regard my time with [[Interpal]] as hugely significant in framing the purest understanding of the principal that charities are custodians of people’s wishes and intentions under the fifth pillar [of [[Islam]]].”

[[Jihad Qundil]] says [[Interpal]] was able to address all of the Commission's key concerns. “We answered the core issues for the [[Charity Commission]] and we answered all of the critics. They examined our literature for any sense of bias and looked into our operations and then put out a statement that said there wasn’t any bias; the [[Commission]] concluded that we were moved by altruism, not terrorism.”

The [[Commission]] also looked into the operations of the [[Palestine and Lebanon Relief Fund]] ([[PLRF]]), the charity that Dr [[Essam Yousef]] had founded prior to [[Interpal]] and which continued operating for several years in parallel with the newer organisation. Its paperwork was also extensive. “I put all of [[PLRF]]’s files into ten black sacks for them to take away. This surprised the [[Charity Commission]] official, who I think had expected just a few papers,” he says.

The [[Charity Commission]] published its findings at the end of May 1996 and issued a press statement. The outcome was a clear vindication for [[Interpal]], with the statement affirming, “We found no evidence of any pro-terrorist bias, or indeed any bias of any kind.”

The [[Commission]] also stated: “It would be impossible, and inappropriate, for the charity to ensure that its funds only go to supporters of the [[Israelis]] in the volatile areas in which it works. They do however need to take every possible step to ensure that their donations only go to charitable purposes, helping the poor and needy. We are satisfied that they do this to the best of their abilities.”

In a later report on [[Interpal]], in 2009, the [[Charity Commission]] described the 1996 inquiry as follows:

“The first inquiry into the Charity, in 1996, concerned allegations that the Charity funded [[Hamas]] and had connections to a number of former [[Hamas]] militants. The inquiry scrutinized the Charity’s financial controls and records and ran test checks on particular payments made by the Charity. It found no evidence of any donations that could not be accounted for or that were given for political reasons.”

[[Jihad Qundil]] recalls this 1996 episode as a character-building experience: “On a personal level it was testing, but we learnt from it and were strengthened.”

This early scrutiny from the [[Charity Commission]] also had its benefits for the operational side. Not only did it find that [[Interpal]]'s activities were strictly charitable, but the [[Commission]] also provided advice on how [[Interpal]] could improve the day-to-day management of its fund-raising activities.

The charity had already set up procedures and a database that enabled it to trace the funds coming in, the names of the donors, their addresses and amounts donated. Copies would be made of cheques, and if the donation was made in cash, a note of that would be copied as well. That would then be linked to the child who would be the recipient of the aid, whose photo, birth certificate and other relevant details would also be included in the database. The details of the local Palestinian charity through which the aid was provided was also recorded.

"I thought we were doing a lot," says [[Jihad Qundil]]. "But the message from the [[Charity Commission]] was that we could do even more." One improvement suggested by the [[Commission]], and which [[Interpal]] adopted, was to request photocopies of cheques once they had been processed by a bank.

Despite the rigours and distractions that this early investigation imposed on [[Interpal]], the process would also stand the charity in good stead with the [[Commission]] in future years. It now understood the sort of issues that preoccupied the regulatory body and, for its part, the [[Commission]] could see that [[Interpal]] had pre-empted many of those concerns and was thus able to provide satisfactory answers to its questions.

"The fact that they came very early on, saw everything and understood how we worked – and that we understood the logic and objectives of what they were trying to achieve – meant we were able to get even stronger," [[Interpal]]'s CEO points out.

[[Essam Yousef]] stresses that the [[Charity Commission]] could not ignore the allegations against [[Interpal]], and has praise for the regulator's procedures at that time: "They had to look into them and do whatever they had to do. I admire them for this. All the time, they behaved like regulators, not prosecutors."

=== 1997-2003: between [[Charity Commission]] investigations ===

The [[Charity Commission]] had found no evidence of any political bias in [[Interpal]]'s activities in 1996. [[Interpal]] then went onto the front foot, challenging those who published what it felt were inaccurate news articles and trying to promote a more positive view of its work. It scored a major victory with the publication of a statement by the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' in November 1997, in which the newspaper withdrew the damaging allegations made in an article it had published in May the previous year:

“On 26 May 1996, in an article entitled ‘[[London]] fatwa backs suicide bombers’, we suggested that the [[Palestinian Relief and Development Fund]] ([[Interpal]]) was run by [[Hamas]] activists who encourage and support terrorist activities in [[Israel]]. We also reported claims which were being investigated by the [[Charity Commission]] that [[Interpal]] was used to raise money to fund the training of suicide bombers in [[Gaza]] and the [[West Bank]]. We now accept that the Trustees of [[Interpal]] are not [[Hamas]] activists. We also accept that the [[Charity Commission]]’s investigations found there to be no evidence of any pro-terrorist bias in the charity or of any channelling of its funds towards the training of suicide bombers. The [[Commission]] concluded that the charity is a ‘well-run and committed organisation which carries out important work in a part of the world where there is great hardship and suffering’ and that [[Interpal]] takes every possible step to ensure that its donations go only to charitable purposes, helping the poor and needy. We withdraw the allegations that appeared in our article and apologise to the Trustees of [[Interpal]] for the embarrassment caused.”

Yet this episode was just one step in the struggle against misrepresentation. Lobbying against [[Interpal]] from within [[Israel]] and the [[US]] continued and would be reflected in periodic news coverage, to which the charity often had to respond. “We were very proactive,” recalls [[Jihad Qundil]]. “Whenever they wrote something, we would challenge it.”

The charity’s relationship with the mainstream media was by no means universally one of conflict, though. Nevertheless, it wasn’t easy. “The accusations were huge, and encouraged by political pressure from within [[Israel]], but newspapers like the ''[[Financial Times]]'' were fair. They would come to us with questions based on talking to the [[Israelis]]; we would explain what we knew and then they would go back to the [[Israelis]] and come back with further questions. After this, they would have a better idea of the reality.”

[[Interpal]] was also proactive in other ways when defending its reputation and promoting its cause. The charity enabled broad access to its operations by funding and hosting visits by groups of politicians and other opinion formers and community leaders to see its projects on the ground.

Over the years, British Members of Parliament have made a number of trips to see [[Interpal]]-supported projects in [[Palestine]] and the refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The first of these took place in July 1998, enabling political representatives to see at first-hand how [[Interpal]] organised relief and support, and how its money was spent.

On that trip, MPs the late [[David Atkinson]] (Conservative) and [[John Austin]] (Labour) accompanied [[Interpal]]'s Chair of Trustees [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] and [[Ghassan Faour]], one of his colleagues on the board, for a visit to a number of projects and institutions in the [[Gaza Strip]] and the [[West Bank]], including hospitals, clinics, an orphanage, a residential care facility for the disabled, an Arab Women's Centre and the [[Islamic University of Gaza]] among others. The MPs also met members of the [[Zakat Committees]] central to charitable assistance in the region. On arrival at [[Ben Gurion Airport]] near [[Tel Aviv]], [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] was going to be banned from entering the country until officials relented following the parliamentarians' intervention. It was at that stage that [[Ibrahim Hewitt]] found out that [[Interpal]] had been "banned" in [[Israel]] since 1996. "Despite this ban," he points out, "[[Interpal]]'s money transfers were still being allowed through the [[Israeli]] banking system unhindered. If there was any genuine concern that charity money was being misused, wouldn't the [[Israelis]] have blocked such payments?"

The reactions of [[David Atkinson]] and [[John Austin]] to what they saw on the visit were very positive. A review of the trip drawn up for the [[British]] parliament concluded that:

"It was evident, both visibly and through discussion with those of the local community whose job it is to administer aid in schools, local adoption schemes and hospitals, that much suffering is alleviated through [[Interpal]]'s involvement and endeavours in the region.

The delegation was impressed at the aid and assistance, both financial and otherwise, provided by [[Interpal]] to the refugees and wider communities in the areas visited... It welcomed the high level of administrative and financial transparency involved in the schemes operated by those to whom funding and assistance is made available."<ref name="InterpalBook" />

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Charities in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Humanitarian aid]]
[[Category:Organisations working in Palestine]]