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Roman Abramovich files lawsuit against Israeli bank that rejected donation — report

Meanwhile, the businessman insists that, being an Israeli citizen, he must receive the bank’s approval for this operation

TEL AVIV, December 28. /TASS/. Billionaire Roman Abramovich, together with the ZAKA charity organization, filed a lawsuit against the Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, who refused to accept a donation from the businessman over the EU sanctions, imposed against him, says a report by Globes.

According to the report, Abramovich intended to send a donation of about $2.2 million to ZAKA to help fund search and rescue operations that this nonprofit organization has been carrying out since the October 7 attack of Palestinian radicals. According to Globes, the bank refused to accept this transfer, citing EU and UK sanctions imposed against him.

Meanwhile, the businessman insists that, being an Israeli citizen, he must receive the bank’s approval for this operation. According to Globes, Israel imposed no sanctions against Abramovich or any other Russian businessmen; in addition, the billionaire is not under US sanctions as well. His lawyers believe that the bank’s position is "erroneous and has no legal basis," the report says.

Globes also notes that Abramovich opened his account in the Mizrahi-Tefahot bank as an Israeli citizen many years ago and that the money he intended to send to ZAKA has been deposited on this account for a long time. The lawsuit also notes that ZAKA volunteers currently are stretched to their limit amid war conditions, and their inventory is depleted, which makes it extremely important to provide them with aid at this time, difficult for Israel. The bank has refrained from commenting on this situation so far.

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