Real estate event in London ‘advertised sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements’ | Real estate

An Israeli property event in north London appears to have advertised the sale of land in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, despite earlier denials that illegal settlement properties would be marketed at the event.

Brochures shared with the Guardian at Sunday’s event showed real estate projects in Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, Kfar Eldad and Teneh Omarim in the occupied West Bank, as well as Ramat Eshkol and Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem.

The event came after more than 100 British MPs and non-governmental organizations called for the event to be cancelled, saying it was inconsistent with the government’s obligations under international law as well as guidelines on settlement-related economic activity.

Andy McDonald, co-chairman of the British-Palestinian all-party parliamentary group, said: “There is at least a prima facie case that people are advertising land in illegal settlements and that this is against the law and the government needs to take action.”

Last week, McDonald wrote a letter to the foreign minister, signed by 101 politicians, saying the incident was “involved in Israel’s project of colonial expansion” and called on the government to stop this advance.

London mayor Sadiq Khan also said he had met with the Metropolitan police and was informed that any allegations of criminality relating to the illegal sale of property at the event would be considered for investigation purposes.

The Met declined to comment.

The London event was the latest stop in a series of international roadshows, following Toronto and New York, advertising land sales in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and inviting individuals to “explore the best Anglo neighbourhoods” and find their “dream home”.

The event invited people to register their interest in Gush Etzion, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank that the UK government considers an illegal settlement.

Organizers had previously denied claims that the event would sell land in the West Bank, calling the claims “ridiculous” and “motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters” and stating that participants would provide information about properties and projects within the green line.

On Tuesday organizers apologized for an “error” in event brochures after concerns were raised in parliament.

“No one at the event promoted or talked about properties in ‘disputed areas’ such as Givat Ze’ev or Kfar Eldad. Mentioning these in the event brochure was done in error, for which we apologize,” organizers said. He told the Jewish News.

The website for the 2025 event that mentioned Gush Etzion has since been taken down, while the agreement on the 2026 event page was removed after concerns were raised publicly. It also included a map of the region that excluded Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as Syria’s Golan Heights.

“How is it that this government cannot even prevent the marketing of contraband goods in this country and still does not take action?” Ellie Chowns asked Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer is understood to have written to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Sunday, requesting that evidence of advertising or promoting property in illegal settlements be examined under UK law.

“We have asked them to look into this matter immediately,” Cooper said Tuesday. “It is extremely important that these standards are met in the UK and that is exactly why we and the ASA have taken this issue so seriously.”

The ASA told the Guardian it had received the letter from the government but had not received any advertising complaints. ASA stated that it has no legal position in this area and conveyed the issue to the government.

McDonald said the government’s references to the ASA were “wholly inappropriate and wholly inadequate” and called on ministers to investigate whether there was a case under English and Welsh law to prosecute any British companies involved.

Amnesty International UK said the government’s decision to refer the matter to the ASA was “a ludicrous ploy that fails to recognize the devastation that Israeli settlements cause for Palestinians”.

McDonald added: “You wouldn’t accept anyone offering settlement in Donbas in the UK. The government would rightly approach this like a ton of bricks.”

“We appear to be completely inconsistent in applying international humanitarian law when it comes to Israel’s egregious behavior, and that is why so many people in this country are angry and have lost faith in the current leadership.”

The incident in London comes as settler violence in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels and a coalition of western countries including Britain, France, Canada, Germany and Italy has called for an end to the construction of Israeli settlements, which they say violate international law.

Last week, Britain, along with other western powers, announced it would impose sanctions on six firms and one individual who enabled and financed the recent surge of settler violence in the West Bank.

But it stopped short of banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements; More than 140 Labor MPs, including the chairs of all Labor-led select committees, called on the government to do so earlier this month.

“They’re not causing Israel enough pain to change course,” McDonald said. “We don’t need to be complicit in this, we can set the standards by which we will respond to the bloody war crimes being committed in the Middle East.”

Dora, who wished to hide her last name, attended Sunday’s event incognito along with other members of the Jewish Anti-Zionist Movement group. “I went there to collect evidence of illegal land sales,” he said.

After being kicked out of the event, he joined a protest outside the venue, during which 14 people were arrested.

“The government’s condemnation is never enough,” he added. “Without foreign intervention, without sanctions, without anything material, nothing will change.”

It is understood the Charity Commission has not launched a compliance case or legal investigation into the incident. A spokesman said: “We are assessing concerns raised with us about an event held at a synagogue affiliated with United Synagogue. Our assessment will determine what regulatory role, if any, the commission has. In line with our guidance, the charity has lodged a serious incident report regarding the concerns raised about the event.”

A source at the synagogue said the event was run by a third party and that prior due diligence had confirmed that all the properties being marketed were legal under English law. They added that the trustees were fully aware of their legal responsibilities and that all necessary checks were in place.