CBRL sets background to Employment Tribunal hearing – March 2026

The London Central Employment Tribunal ended its three-day hearing on 13 March, to decide if it can accept a case against CBRL by former Kenyon Institute and Deputy CBRL Director Dr Toufic Haddad. He alleges unfair dismissal and discrimination over his redundancy on March 31, 2024.

The hearing judge will, in the coming months, announce whether the Employment Tribunal (England and Wales) has jurisdiction to hear a case about a formerly Jerusalem-based staff member. His contract was signed by both parties as under the jurisdiction of the de facto labour law system of East Jerusalem, but Dr Haddad chose to seek a hearing in an English tribunal.

The hearing was public. CBRL told the tribunal the contract was developed with relevant legal guidance and was based on the facts that Dr Haddad is a US national without the right to work in the UK.

The redundancy was on economic grounds as the charity faced budget cuts. It came eight weeks before CBRL was legally obliged to end Dr Haddad’s employment when his already-extended work visa expired.

The Claimant and his representatives have made inaccurate statements about CBRL and our activities in East Jerusalem which we fear pose serious risks to our staff and indeed our future.

In particular, the assertions that CBRL and the Kenyon Institute have conducted activity in recent decades at the behest of the UK government, is untrue and categorically false. No employee of CBRL’s Kenyon Institute is or was a British Official. CBRL is an independent charity whose staff, trustees and supporters are committed to our work in the Levant.

CBRL does not normally comment on personnel issues. However, this case has been publicly aired and misleading accounts have appeared on the internet, so we feel it is appropriate to bring clarity.

For decades CBRL has worked collaboratively to increase understandings of the past and of the present in the Levant by conducting and supporting excellent and impactful academic research in the Humanities and Social Sciences across the region, and by disseminating the results of such research as widely as possible.

We remain committed to our vision of promoting research that makes the fullest possible contribution to fostering knowledge and understanding of the Levant, for the common good. To achieve these aims we employ an exceptional team of talented individuals across the organisation. More information about the organisation can be found on our website (www.cbrl.ac.uk).

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