An Israeli real estate event held in north London on Sunday appears to have marketed properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, contradicting prior assurances from organisers that no such land would be promoted.
Event Brochures Revealed Settlement Projects
Pamphlets obtained by the Guardian from the Great Real Estate Event showcased developments in Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, Kfar Eldad, and Teneh Omarim in the West Bank, as well as Ramat Eshkol and Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem. These areas are considered illegal settlements under international law.
The event proceeded despite calls from over 100 UK lawmakers and civil society groups for its cancellation, citing inconsistency with the government's obligations under international law and guidance on settlement-related economic activity.
Political and Legal Reactions
Andy McDonald MP, co-chair of the British-Palestine all-party parliamentary group, stated: “There is a prima facie case at the very least that people were advertising land in illegal settlements and that is contrary to law, and the government needs to act.” He had previously written to the foreign secretary, alongside 101 politicians, urging the government to stop the event.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also expressed concerns and contacted the Metropolitan police, who noted that any allegations of criminality regarding unlawful property sales would be assessed. The Met declined further comment.
Organisers Apologise for ‘Error’
On Tuesday, organisers apologised for the inclusion of settlement properties in event brochures, calling it an “error.” They stated: “No one at the event promoted or spoke about properties in the ‘disputed territories’, such as Givat Ze’ev or Kfar Eldad. Their mention in the event brochure was made in error for which we apologise.”
The event’s website had previously referenced Gush Etzion, a major West Bank settlement, but that page has since been removed. The 2026 event page also deleted mentions of the settlement after public scrutiny.
Government Response Under Fire
In the Commons on Tuesday, MP Ellie Chowns questioned Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper: “How is it that this government fails even to prevent the marketing of illegal property in this country and still fails to take action?”
Cooper confirmed that Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer had written to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Sunday, requesting scrutiny of evidence under UK law. “We have asked them now to urgently look into this,” she said. “It is extremely important that those standards are met in the UK, and that is exactly why we have raised this so seriously with the ASA.”
The ASA told the Guardian it had received the government’s letter but no advertising complaints, and it referred the legal matter back to the government.
Criticism of Government Approach
McDonald labelled the referral to the ASA as “wholly inappropriate and completely inadequate,” calling for an investigation into potential prosecutions under English and Welsh law for any British companies involved. Amnesty International UK described the government’s move as “a ridiculous gimmick that fails to understand the devastation Israeli settlements cause for Palestinians.”
McDonald added: “You would not accept anybody offering settlement lands in the Donbas in the United Kingdom. The government would, quite rightly, come down on that like a ton of bricks. We appear to be completely inconsistent in applying international humanitarian law when it comes to Israel’s egregious behaviours.”
Broader Context of Settler Violence
The London event occurred amid unprecedented levels of settler violence in the West Bank. A coalition of Western countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Germany, and Italy, recently called for an end to settlement construction, which they say breaches international law. Last week, the UK and other Western powers imposed sanctions on six firms and one individual for enabling settler violence, but stopped short of banning trade with illegal settlements—a step demanded by over 140 Labour MPs.
McDonald criticised the lack of meaningful consequences: “They’re not inflicting any pain on Israel sufficient to get them to change course. We don’t have to be complicit in it, we can set out the standards that we adhere to and not murderous war crimes being perpetrated in the Middle East.”
Undercover Investigation and Protest
Dora, a member of Jewish Anti-Zionist Action who attended undercover to collect evidence, said: “I went in there with the objective of collecting evidence of illegal land sale.” After being ejected, she joined a protest outside where 14 people were arrested. “Condemnation from the government is just never enough,” she added. “Nothing’s going to change if there’s no foreign intervention, if there’s no sanctions, if there’s nothing material.”
The Charity Commission has not opened a compliance case into the incident. A spokesperson 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 there is, if any, for the commission. In line with our guidance, the charity has submitted a serious incident report relating to concerns raised about the event.”
A source at the synagogue stated the event was a third-party hire, and due diligence confirmed all marketed properties were legal under English law. Trustees were fully aware of their legal responsibilities and applied all proper checks.
