Roman Abramovich suing Israeli bank for blocking $2.2 million donation to NGO
Russian businessman demands Bank Mizrahi Tefahot unfreezes his account and allows him to make NIS 8 million donation to ZAKA, a volunteer organization that has been at the center of the effort to recover the bodies of hundreds of civilians following Hamas’ murderous attack on October 7
Businessman Roman Abramovich and voluntary organization ZAKA filed a lawsuit against Bank Mizrahi Tefahot on Wednesday in the Tel Aviv District Court, alleging that the bank refuses to transfer a donation of NIS 8 million (approximately $2.2 million) to ZAKA for their activities in the war.
"The issue at hand, stemming from circumstances beyond our control, is the bank's unreasonable refusal to allow an urgently needed donation to the ZAKA organization, both to prevent organizational collapse and to assist volunteers coping with the difficult mental aftermath of the war," read the lawsuit.
ZAKA was established over thirty years ago following the wave of bus bombings and suicide attacks during the Second Intifada. ZAKA volunteers work under the Israeli Police and are considered to be police volunteers. They typically focus on recovering the bodies of civilians, working alongside an army unit responsible for recovering bodies of soldiers and other state personnel including police.
Abramovich demands in the lawsuit that Bank Mizrahi Tefahot be required to transfer the donation immediately. According to the lawsuit, the bank refused the request on the general grounds that Abramovich's account is blocked due to sanctions imposed by the European Union and the British government on the Russian businessman. Therefore, the bank asserts that no operations of any kind can be performed.
Abramovich’s lawyers are arguing that the Israeli government has not imposed any sanctions against the businessmen following the war in Ukraine, and neither has the U.S. government, and therefore the blocking of the account is fundamentally wrong and lacks any legal basis. The lawsuit also asserts that Abramovich, an Israeli citizen, opened the bank account years ago, and the money intended for donation to ZAKA was deposited in the account at the time.
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The lawsuit further states, "Since October 7, ZAKA volunteers have been tirelessly working on a noble national mission. Dedicated volunteers left their homes, jobs, and natural surroundings to move between the scenes of horror in the Gaza Envelope and throughout the southern region, performing the most difficult task of locating and collecting the bodies of the victims, many of whom were in a horrific physical condition."
It is claimed that the organization's resources and the warehouses of the equipment used by it have been completely depleted. The organization is also required to run a mental health care program for its volunteers exposed to horrific and inhumane events and sights, even by the standards in which ZAKA normally operates. ZAKA volunteers include Jews, Christians, Druze, Bedouins, and Muslims, providing assistance to all people, regardless of religion, race, or gender.
Abramovich's lawyers emphasized that "It is unthinkable that at this most difficult time Bank Mizrahi Tefahot is blocking such a vital contribution to one of the most important enterprises in our community." A statement of defense has not yet been submitted by the bank. A spokesperson for Mizrahi Tefahot stated, "We will not be able to refer to specific customers for reasons of banking confidentiality. If a lawsuit is filed, we will present our position in court."
