Haifa Court Seeks Liquidation of Association Over Turkey Fund Transfers

The Registrar of Associations has filed a request with the Haifa District Court for a winding-up order against the Sakh'aa Abu Nidal association, following an investigation and supervision by the Corporations Authority that revealed severe irregularities, including the transfer of hundreds of thousands of shekels to corporations in Turkey without oversight of the funds' usage.

Financial Transfers and Oversight Failures

According to the liquidation request, during 2023 and 2024, the association transferred the funds to corporations in Turkey, claiming it was for supporting refugees affected by the war in Syria. However, the Corporations Authority stated that the association failed to present documentation proving the funds were used for their stated purposes, including lists of needy recipients or receipts for purchases.

The request also noted concerns that, in the absence of supervision, the funds might be used for foreign purposes, including terror financing, against the backdrop of international warnings concerning associations operating in Turkey. Furthermore, the investigation revealed allegations of familial ties and conflicts of interest within the association's institutions, with spouses serving as the sole signatories and family ties existing between board members and audit committee members, contrary to legal instructions.

Official Response

Shuli Avni Shoham, head of the Corporations Authority and Registrar of Associations, stated: "The Registrar of Associations views the irregularities discovered in this association with the utmost severity, as they indicate a complete lack of supervision over public funds transferred abroad and a tangible concern of their use for foreign purposes. We will act resolutely to ensure that association funds are used to promote their approved goals and not for other purposes, for the sake of the public interest."