LONDON, June 13 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – More than 100 Parliamentarians have formally requested that the government cancel an upcoming Israeli real estate event scheduled to take place in London this Sunday. Lawmakers, including members of the House of Lords, argue that the event is linked to the sale of property located on land taken from Palestinians.
In a letter addressed to the foreign secretary on Friday, the coalition of 101 parliamentarians warned that the gathering is embedded in a project of colonial expansion. They called on the government to utilize all necessary measures to prevent the event from proceeding within the capital.
The signatories to the letter include Labour MPs Andy McDonald and Debbie Abrahams, who serve as co-chairs of the British-Palestine all-party parliamentary group. Concerns regarding the event were raised in parliament earlier in the week, alongside separate discussions between the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Metropolitan police.
Allegations of Illegal Expansion
The controversy centers on whether the event promotes the sale of land in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank. While the event initially appeared to market properties in Gush Etzion, a site the UK government considers an illegal settlement, organizers have since modified their online presence.
The event, described as a private, invitation-only gathering, offers access to insurance, tax, and mortgage consultants. Marketing materials previously featured a map that failed to delineate Gaza, the occupied West Bank, or the Golan Heights.
Organizers have publicly denied the allegations that the event involves the sale of West Bank land. A spokesperson stated that all exhibitors would provide information exclusively regarding properties and projects located within the Green line. References to specific settlements were removed from the event website following public scrutiny.
Wider Impact of New Sanctions
The call for cancellation follows a recent announcement by the UK and other western allies regarding sanctions on firms and individuals involved in financing settler violence in the West Bank. Although the government has previously sanctioned organizations supporting illegal settlers and specific government ministers, it has not yet implemented a total ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
Civil society organizations, including Amnesty International UK, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the Muslim Association of Britain, have joined the campaign against the event. These groups argue that the expo normalizes the occupation by marketing settlement properties alongside listings in Israeli cities.
Kristyan Benedict, the crisis response manager at Amnesty International, highlighted the gravity of the situation.
“This isn’t a property fair. It’s apartheid and annexation with a sales pitch,” said Benedict.
Official Government Stance
The government has maintained that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. A spokesperson emphasized the need for the Israeli government to address settler violence and halt expansion efforts.
In previous actions, the government imposed sanctions on seven organizations supporting illegal settlers in October 2024. By June 2025, officials also sanctioned Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for their roles in activities related to West Bank settlements.
Government representatives confirmed that they are currently developing updated guidance. This documentation aims to provide clarity for UK businesses regarding how to avoid involvement in commercial ventures that support illegal settlements in the region.
