War on Want, a charity whose mission statement says that it fights global poverty, has appointed a leading anti-Israel activist as its senior campaigns officer.

Rafeef Ziadeh, who co-founded the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid and identifies herself as a "refugee from occupied Palestine", was appointed following an "open recruitment" process advertised by the charity.

John Hilary, WoW's executive director, said: "War on Want is pleased to have appointed Rafeef Ziadeh to work on issues of militarism and security, including the situation in Palestine.

"War on Want has long supported the call from Palestinian civil society for a global movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law. We are happy to have recruited Rafeef to continue this work."