Israel lobby sells stolen Palestinian land to Australian investors

The Australian Jewish Association is backing an Israeli property scheme selling stolen Palestinian land to Australian investors. Joshua Barnett And Stephanie Tran to research.

The far-right Zionist lobby group, the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), together with its ‘partners’, supports the Israeli real estate project. Noam Houses And Selling IsraelIt sells land in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank.

AJA declined to respond to questions posed last week. MWM. Understood

Corporate regulator ASIC is investigating the scheme.

There is no evidence in marketing materials that those operating the scheme have the appropriate authority in Australia: either a license to provide financial advice or a license to sell property – let alone properties deemed illegal under international law.

The events in Sydney and Melbourne were promoted as “a gateway to investment in Israeli real estate”, with a sales pipeline run through Noam Homes, the Jerusalem-based agency linked to the brand. Gush Etzion, Ma’ale Adumim and Efrat.

According to international law, these are illegal settlements.

The marketing material does not mention the promoter(s) holding an Australian Financial Services License and also raises questions of discrimination. The program markets to Australian Jews but does not clearly disclose whether non-Jews are eligible to invest.

Promotional material lists three named partners for the events: Australian Jewish Association (AJA), Noam Houses And Selling Israel. AJA told followers on Instagram that they were “partnering” on the Sydney event and directed bookings through a link to the Noam Homes website.

Noam Vasl is the CEO of Noam Homes and Selling Israel. Vasl is described as “a trusted advisor to both foreign investors and individuals making Aliyah (“ascension” means emigration for the chosen) to Israel.” Vasl is also the founder and CEO of Sydney Israel Ltd, a Noam Homes subsidiary established in 2018.

The event was also streamed online under multiple web addresses. israelevent2025.com, sellisrael.com And noamhomes.com.

Houses in illegal settlements

On its website, Noam Homes publicly markets properties in numerous Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Ma’ale Adumim, the Efrat and Gush Etzion block, Mitzpe Yericho, Giv’at Ze’ev and Har Adar.

The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in occupied territory since 1967 to be illegal under international law; This was confirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which stated that such settlements “have no legal validity”. There has been a significant increase in settlement rates since October 7, 2023.

West Bank. Israel’s cruelty is in sight but out of mind

Australian Jewish Association (AJA)

We asked AJA to explain what “partnership” means in practice; Given that Noam Homes markets properties in West Bank settlements, including Ma’ale Adumim and Efrat, whether any payments, referral fees, sponsorship income or other benefits are involved and what type of due diligence it conducts.

We also asked whether AJA or any organization involved in supporting the program held an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). AJA did not respond.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) was also asked what charity governance rules apply when a registered not-for-profit organization (NFP) promotes or “partners” in events that encourage people to invest in overseas real estate, and whether this creates a risk of non-incidental private interest or conflict of interest when referral fees or sponsorship are involved.

In its initial response, an ACNC spokesperson said the regulator was unable to identify the named organization on the charity register and asked us to provide an ABN if we wanted the matter to be investigated further.

The ACNC said charities must comply with the ACNC Standards of Governance and, if operating overseas, the Standards of External Conduct. We then gave the details of AJA and ABN. The ACNC’s response will be published in due course.

Noam Houses

Noam Homes markets itself as a one-stop shop for rentals, sales and “investment properties.” It operates under the brand ‘Selling Israel’, reporting to both representative and CEO Noam Vasl.

The firm’s own website has location pages and active listings in West Bank settlements including Ma’ale Adumim, which it describes as “an urban Israeli settlement and a city in the West Bank,” as well as Mitzpe Yericho, the Efrat and Gush Etzion block, and Giv’at Ze’ev.

Noam Homes says on LinkedIn that it was founded in 2013 and has offices in Jerusalem and Efrat.

We haven’t been able to independently confirm specific previous transactions, but the company’s published marketing makes clear that it has long been promoting properties and new projects in residential areas, including materials aimed at foreign buyers and overseas tour-style sales pushes.

Gush Etzion

Gush Etzion is a block of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, south of Jerusalem, and includes the settlement of Efrat. Israeli settlements in occupied territories since 1967 have been recognized by the United Nations as having no legal validity, and this was reaffirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

Noam Homes markets its properties on the block through a dedicated page titled “Properties for Sale in Efrat and Gush Etzion”He says he specializes in helping buyers find homes there and advertising Efrat projects and listings in the Gush Etzion area. These lists also include houses Efrat neighborhoods like Zayitand a private home entrance Dagan Efratboth were promoted through Noam Homes’ website.

Illegal or discriminatory?

There is no Australian law preventing the sale of property in illegal settlements, but Australia’s promotion of land deals still raises legal questions, especially if marketing blurs where the land is located, which jurisdiction manages it and who has access.

Section 12 of the Racial Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to refuse to dispose of property or an interest in land because of race, colour, or national or ethnic origin. NSW’s anti-discrimination framework also recognizes “ethno-religious origin” in its racial discrimination guidance; This is a point that may be valid when events revolve around community membership.

The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct and specifically prohibits false or misleading representations in relation to the sale of land, including representations regarding the location of land.

Finally, an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) is required to promote real estate investments. Noam Homes is not on the AFSL registry.

None of this proves that a violation has occurred. But it underscores why the “Israeli real estate” brand may be important when there are some locations in the West Bank being marketed with sellers’ own materials.