Nearly 100 UK MPs and peers urge cancellation of Israeli settlement event
Submitted by
Mera Aladam
on
Sat, 06/13/2026 - 11:47
The letter says 'Great Israeli Real Estate Event' in London is promoting sale of 'stolen Palestinian land'
Israeli soldiers stand guard during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, 16 May 2026 (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)
Off
Nearly 100 British MPs and peers have signed a letter calling for an upcoming London event advertising the sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements to be cancelled, warning that it could implicate the UK in international war crimes.
The Great Israeli Real Estate Event is scheduled to be held in London this Sunday, but its location is being kept secret.
Andy McDonald, an MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, published the statement on X on Friday, urging the UK government to prevent the Great Israeli Real Estate Event from taking place.
"The govt has an opportunity to uphold obligations under international law and take action against Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine," McDonald wrote.
The letter, sent to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, described the event as "firmly embedded in Israel's project of colonial expansion" as it facilitates the sale of land seized from displaced Palestinians.
"While inviting new settlers to purchase stolen Palestinian land, Palestinian refugees who have been displaced by Israel, and their descendants, are denied the ability to exercise their inalienable, legally enshrined right of return," the statement read.
London's Mayor Sadiq Khan has also condemned "any attempt to sell property in the settlements in the West Bank" and expressed "concerns" about the event taking place in the city.
Middle East Eye has learned that the Met has been asked by legal groups to investigate whether the event should be blocked from going ahead under a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
An MEE investigation previously uncovered evidence of the event's connections to companies involved in illegal settlements.
Prominent politicians, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have told MEE the event, whose location is being kept secret, should be banned.
Emanuel Vatari, CEO of one of the sponsors of the event, the Emanuel Group, posted a list of companies participating on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
The list includes Harey Zahav, an Israeli real estate development company whose website advertises property in Negohot, an illegal Israeli settlement in the southern Hebron Hills in the occupied West Bank.
Almost 100 MPs and Peers are urging Ministers to prevent the 'Great Israeli Real Estate Event' taking place in London this weekend.
The govt has an opportunity to uphold obligations under international law and take action against Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. pic.twitter.com/uAGNighc3J
— Andy McDonald MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East (@AndyMcDonaldMP) June 12, 2026
Also on the list is The Meshulam Levinstein Group, a collection of engineering, construction and real estate companies.
It has built residential and commercial projects in illegal settlements in both the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
The Intercept reported last month that during the Great Israeli Real Estate Event in New York City, "at least one table [was] advertising land sales in Kfar Eldad, Karnei Shomron and other Israeli settlements in the occupied territories".
Amnesty International UK urged the government earlier this week to take "immediate action to prevent the event from proceeding on UK soil".
According to a recent Amnesty report, the Israeli government has expanded gun licences and the number of armed settlers in the area, increased funding for illegal settlements, and accelerated the construction of settlements and the legalisation of outposts.
Outposts are settlements built in contravention of Israeli law, which are increasingly being legalised by the authorities. All Israeli settlements, properties and projects in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law.
Occupation
News
Post Date Override
0
Update Date
Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19
Update Date Override
0