More than 100 British lawmakers have called for the cancellation of an Israeli real estate event in London, arguing it could promote property linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. In a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, 101 parliamentarians from the House of Commons and House of Lords urged the government to block the event scheduled for Sunday, as reported by The Guardian. They stated that the exhibition is connected to the sale of land in Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law and warned it could contribute to settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territory.
Event Details and Controversy
The event is part of a series of international property exhibitions targeting prospective buyers interested in homes and investment opportunities in Israel. Early promotional materials invited investors to explore residential options in areas such as Gush Etzion, a settlement bloc in the occupied West Bank. However, organizers have denied allegations that properties in West Bank settlements will be marketed, describing the claims as “ridiculous” in comments to Jewish News. They asserted that all exhibitors would present information only on properties within Israel’s internationally recognized boundaries. References to Gush Etzion were later removed from the event’s website.
Criticism from Human Rights Organizations
The controversy has drawn criticism from human rights and pro-Palestinian groups, including Amnesty International UK, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the Muslim Association of Britain, all of which have called for the event to be canceled. Kristyan Benedict, crisis response manager for Amnesty International UK, stated that allowing an event encouraging settlement-related activity would be inappropriate amid ongoing concerns about settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank. “Given the significant escalation in speed and scale of annexation measures under Israel’s current government and the rise in state-backed settler violence, it is unthinkable that the UK government could allow an event to be held in the UK that openly promotes activities encouraging settlement expansion,” she said. “This isn’t a property fair, it’s apartheid and annexation with a sales pitch.”
UK Government Position
The event occurs amid growing international criticism of Israeli settlement construction. Britain and its allies have repeatedly stated that settlements in the occupied West Bank violate international law and undermine prospects for a negotiated two-state solution, a position rejected by Israel. A UK government spokesperson reiterated this stance, noting that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and harmful to lasting peace. The spokesperson added that Britain would soon issue updated guidance to help UK businesses avoid involvement in commercial activities linked to settlements. The UK has previously taken measures targeting settlement activity, including imposing sanctions on organizations and individuals accused of supporting violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
