A member of the board of Atlanta-based CARE USA has taken a voluntary leave of absence after concerns were raised about his connection to a company linked to building settlements in the West Bank.
Rich Marin of New York is the CEO of Africa Israel Investments USA, a real estate investment company that invests in the United States and Panama. It's parent company is Africa Israel Investments Ltd.
According to a release, CARE and Marin were notified by a grassroots organization called Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel that some companies under Africa Israel Investments Ltd. have been connected to building settlements.
Marin, the release said, "did not want even the appearance of a connection to hinder CARE's work, especially in the West Bank and Gaza, so he voluntarily stepped aside from his CARE USA board obligations." The release said AFI USA does not build settlements in the West Bank.
Marin was hired as CEO after he joined the CARE board according to a release from the international humanitarian organization. CARE opposes illegal settlement building.
A spokeswoman for Adalah-NY said the group was satisfied with the decision.
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