UK lawmakers urge cancellation of Israeli real estate event in London
6 reported1 conflicting
More than 100 UK lawmakers have called for the cancellation of an Israeli real estate event scheduled for Sunday in London, which appeared to advertise the sale of land in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. In a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, 101 parliamentarians and members of the House of Lords warned the event was “firmly embedded in Israel’s project of colonial expansion” and urged the government to take “all necessary steps” to stop it. Organisers denied the event would feature land for sale in the West Bank, calling the allegations “ridiculous” and “motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters.” A spokesperson told Jewish News that all exhibitors would provide information about properties within the Green line. The event, billed as private and invitation-only, previously took place in Toronto and six locations in New York. The UK government has not cancelled the event but said it will bring forward updated guidance on settlement-related economic activity.
What’s reported
101 UK lawmakers and members of the House of Lords signed a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling for cancellation of the event.
The letter said the event is “firmly embedded in Israel’s project of colonial expansion” and facilitates sale of land “stolen from Palestinians.”
Organisers denied the event will feature land for sale in the West Bank, calling allegations “ridiculous” and “motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters.”
A spokesperson told Jewish News that all exhibitors will provide information about properties within the Green line.
The event previously took place in Toronto in May and six locations in New York.
The UK government said it will bring forward updated guidance in the coming days on settlement-related economic activity.
Conflicting accounts
The source article reports that organisers deny the event will feature land for sale in the West Bank, while lawmakers and civil society groups say it advertises settlement land.
Key figures
Yvette Cooper (Foreign Secretary)
Andy McDonald (Labour MP, co-chair of British-Palestine all-party parliamentary group)
Debbie Abrahams (Labour MP, co-chair of British-Palestine all-party parliamentary group)
Sadiq Khan (London mayor)
Kristyan Benedict (crisis response manager at Amnesty International)
Shabana Mahmood (Home Secretary)
Itamar Ben-Gvir (Israeli government minister)
Bezalel Smotrich (Israeli government minister)
Sources: The Guardian
