Robert Jenrick Accepts Donations from 'Family Friend' Who Ships Arms to Israel
Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has received large donations from a billionaire whose firm is responsible for shipping arms to Israel, whose name appears in the Pandora papers, and who was also drawn into the MP's previous lobbying scandal.
Jenrick, who on Wednesday progressed to the final round of the leadership race alongside Kemi Badenoch, received £70,000 from Quantum Pacific Corporation in two donations of £35,000; one on 3 April "for campaign funding", the other on 28 August.
Quantum Pacific corporation is owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, who Jenrick described as a "family friend" in 2020 and who he controversially met in 2018 while assessing a scheme that posed a threat to Ofer's business.
Ofer resigned from the board of Harvard University in protest against the school's president, Claudine Gay's "shocking and insensitive" response to a student letter which blamed Israel for the massacre committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and called on the institute to "take action and to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians".
Ofer stated that his departure had "been precipitated by the lack of clear evidence of support from the University's leadership for the people of Israel following the tragic events of the past week, coupled with their apparent unwillingness to recognise Hamas for what it is, a terrorist organisation".
Ofer is the owner of Kenon Holdings which owns 17% of ZIM, a shipping corporation which ships arms to Israel.
Related reading: Robert Jenrick's Special Forces Comments Expose a 'Desire to Tear up UK's Commitment to Protect Basic Rights and Freedoms'
In May 2024 a collective of Belgian NGOs including Amnesty started proceedings to sue ZIM over an alleged breach of the Geneva Convention, allegations that defence materials were transported through Antwerp without a permit, and that the company had violated the Flemish Government's policy against arms shipments to Israel.
Two days after receiving the first donation, Jenrick criticised calls for suspending arms exports to Israel referring to the demands for embargoes as "student union politics". He has emphasised his support for Israel repeatedly as part of his leadership campaign, including wearing a hoodie reading, 'Hamas are terrorists'.
In a column for the Daily Mail on 7 October 2024, Jenrick argued for the creation of a law to ban Friends of Al Aqsa, a pro-Palestine NGO, and the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
Jenrick also proposed the UK display "the Star of David at the UK border to show 'we stand with Israel'" and announced he would move the British embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a controversial move given the international community considers East Jerusalem occupied territory. Donald Trump moved the US Embassy in 2018.
Related reading: Conservative Frontrunner Robert Jenrick Plans to 'Win a Culture War' with Young People
Gearóid Ó Cuinn, Director of Global Legal Action Network, told Byline Times: "Accepting such donations betrays a selective commitment to the rule of law. Even outside Government, political parties must uphold international legal principles and not accept funds from those associated with arms shipments for use in Palestine, otherwise, as the ICJ has made clear, they risk endorsing actions that contribute to unlawful occupation and undermine the duty to prevent genocide."
In 2020, Jenrick admitted Ofer was a "family friend" after the billionaire was drawn into a lobbying scandal he was involved in. Ofer met with Jenrick while he was exchequer secretary to the Treasury and was considering a request for financial support from Sirius Minerals, a rival to Ofer's mining company, Cleveland Potash.
At the time, Jenrick said he had recused himself from oversight of the Sirius aid request, but the Guardian reported that it took six months for him to hand oversight to Liz Truss. Jenrick ultimately did not grant Sirius Minerals the financial aid it sought, leaving the fi
Jenrick, who on Wednesday progressed to the final round of the leadership race alongside Kemi Badenoch, received £70,000 from Quantum Pacific Corporation in two donations of £35,000; one on 3 April "for campaign funding", the other on 28 August.
Quantum Pacific corporation is owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, who Jenrick described as a "family friend" in 2020 and who he controversially met in 2018 while assessing a scheme that posed a threat to Ofer's business.
Ofer resigned from the board of Harvard University in protest against the school's president, Claudine Gay's "shocking and insensitive" response to a student letter which blamed Israel for the massacre committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and called on the institute to "take action and to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians".
Ofer stated that his departure had "been precipitated by the lack of clear evidence of support from the University's leadership for the people of Israel following the tragic events of the past week, coupled with their apparent unwillingness to recognise Hamas for what it is, a terrorist organisation".
Ofer is the owner of Kenon Holdings which owns 17% of ZIM, a shipping corporation which ships arms to Israel.
Related reading: Robert Jenrick's Special Forces Comments Expose a 'Desire to Tear up UK's Commitment to Protect Basic Rights and Freedoms'
In May 2024 a collective of Belgian NGOs including Amnesty started proceedings to sue ZIM over an alleged breach of the Geneva Convention, allegations that defence materials were transported through Antwerp without a permit, and that the company had violated the Flemish Government's policy against arms shipments to Israel.
Two days after receiving the first donation, Jenrick criticised calls for suspending arms exports to Israel referring to the demands for embargoes as "student union politics". He has emphasised his support for Israel repeatedly as part of his leadership campaign, including wearing a hoodie reading, 'Hamas are terrorists'.
In a column for the Daily Mail on 7 October 2024, Jenrick argued for the creation of a law to ban Friends of Al Aqsa, a pro-Palestine NGO, and the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
Jenrick also proposed the UK display "the Star of David at the UK border to show 'we stand with Israel'" and announced he would move the British embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a controversial move given the international community considers East Jerusalem occupied territory. Donald Trump moved the US Embassy in 2018.
Related reading: Conservative Frontrunner Robert Jenrick Plans to 'Win a Culture War' with Young People
Gearóid Ó Cuinn, Director of Global Legal Action Network, told Byline Times: "Accepting such donations betrays a selective commitment to the rule of law. Even outside Government, political parties must uphold international legal principles and not accept funds from those associated with arms shipments for use in Palestine, otherwise, as the ICJ has made clear, they risk endorsing actions that contribute to unlawful occupation and undermine the duty to prevent genocide."
In 2020, Jenrick admitted Ofer was a "family friend" after the billionaire was drawn into a lobbying scandal he was involved in. Ofer met with Jenrick while he was exchequer secretary to the Treasury and was considering a request for financial support from Sirius Minerals, a rival to Ofer's mining company, Cleveland Potash.
At the time, Jenrick said he had recused himself from oversight of the Sirius aid request, but the Guardian reported that it took six months for him to hand oversight to Liz Truss. Jenrick ultimately did not grant Sirius Minerals the financial aid it sought, leaving the fi
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