The disclosure by The Jewish Week of the $7 million fraud at the Claims Conference has revived former concerns and exposed new problems relating to the management of this important Jewish organization.

Initially, Claims Conference officials trivialized the fraud by insisting “that nobody was responsible because there was no deviation from standard procedures” and denying that there was any failure in oversight. Incredibly, the treasurer subsequently revealed that $7 million was “only the tip of the iceberg,” prompting KPMG auditors to refuse to sign off on the accounts. That such a gigantic loss from funds destined for restitution is brushed aside in such a cavalier manner highlights a serious lack of accountability.

Three years ago, in the wake of the March of the Living scandal exposing a failure in oversight when a consultant was paid over $700,000 without any plausible explanation [first reported in The Jewish Week], there were calls for an independent forensic audit to review the broad spectrum of control within the organization. Had that call been heeded, this multimillion-dollar fraud may have been averted.

In the wake of my recent columns concerning the Claims Conference I received a number of heartbreaking letters from Holocaust survivors describing the appalling conditions they or their loved ones are enduring. I wish that these descriptions of the indignities that some destitute survivors are obliged to experience could be circulated to those serving as directors to the Claims Conference.

I am however concerned that despite the anger which is being generated as people become aware of what is taking place, the chairman of the Claims Conference and his inner circle are determined not to change their approach. They intend to weather the storm, assuming it will die down in the course of time and that the directors that comprise the board will not pressure them into reforming the organization or take steps to ameliorate the desperate conditions of the elderly and ailing survivors.

I would urge those of you who share my view that something must be done urgently to improve the plight of survivors to act now and demand that remedial action be taken immediately, even if this requires freezing or suspending other projects.

Over the years I have encountered many cases of incompetence and blunders on the part of those responsible for promoting the case for Israel on a global level, but nothing quite as bizarre as what I experienced a few days ago. A number of British Jews wrote to me complaining bitterly that the Israeli London Embassy was promoting a tour by Haaretz journalist Gidon Levy.

For those who are unaware, Levy is regarded as one of the most extreme and outspoken of the Israeli anti-Zionist journalists, notorious for demonizing Israel and supporting the most anti-Israeli groups. He repeatedly brackets Israeli behavior with that of the Nazis, accuses Israel of practicing apartheid and committing war crimes, and defines himself as anti-Zionist. He accuses Meretz, Peace Now and others on the far left in Israel of lacking the courage to open “the 1948 file.”

So when I was informed that the embassy was promoting his visit, which was under the auspices of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign I refused to believe it, and requested evidence substantiating such an accusation.