U.K. Foreign Office Refuses To Disclose Audit Of Palestinian Aid

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 24: Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak (L), greets Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Downing Street on March 24, 2023 in London, England. Benjamin Netanyahu visits London against a backdrop of unrest at home. Protests are being held weekly across Israel against legislation being pushed through the Knesset by his government to restrain the judiciary. PHOTO BY CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

The U.K. Foreign Office has declined to disclose how British development aid to the Palestinian Authority is audited, claiming it would “not be in the public interest” to do so, Jewish groups claimed on Monday.

In a statement first reported by the Jewish News website, We Believe in Israel and B’nai B’rith U.K. accused London’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) of attempting to dodge a May 2023 freedom of information request that sought to make public audit reports related to the so-called “Palestinian Recovery and Development Program.”