ILLEGAL homes in West Bank settlements are still being advertised to prospective buyers in the UK via an Israeli property roadshow.
Last month, organisers of the "Great Israeli Real Estate Event" handed out pamphlets showing real-estate projects in Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, Kfar Eldad and Teneh Omarim in the occupied West Bank.
Others were shown to be in Ramat Eshkol and Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem, according to The Guardian.
Amnesty International spoke out ahead of the June 14 event and said it was "normalising illegal settlements" and called on the UK Government to take action. In the days prior, 100 MPs and peers signed their names urging ministers to prevent the event from taking place.
On June 16, Middle East Eye learned that London's Metropolitan Police would not be investigating the event, but it would be looked at by the Advertising Standards Authority.
After concerns were raised in parliament, organisers apologised for the “error” in brochures.
But the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has demanded a thorough investigation to find out why prior concerns were not addressed.
Órlaith Roe, ICJP’s public affairs and communications officer, said: “Despite extensive warnings from our organisation and others, this event went ahead and promoted property located in illegal Israeli settlements.
"We now have concrete evidence of what many feared: a registered UK charity facilitated the marketing of property in settlements that the UK Government itself recognises as unlawful and a ‘flagrant violation’ of international law.
"What remains unclear is why the relevant authorities failed to intervene when these concerns were repeatedly brought to their attention.
"If charities can use their premises and resources to host events connected to illegal settlement activity without scrutiny or consequence, public trust in charity regulation is seriously undermined.
"The Charity Commission must open an urgent investigation, and the Government must ensure that its actions match its stated commitment to upholding international law. Anything less risks sending the message that there is one standard for some violations of international law and another for those affecting Palestinians.”
Then in July, Novara Media reported that organisers had emailed subscribers advertising the sale of more West Bank homes on behalf of Israeli real estate company Harey Zahav.
An anonymous source from Jewish Anti-Zionist Action said: “It’s a blatant denial of Palestinian rights through the assertion that the West Bank belongs to the Jewish people.
"It’s really horrible to see the facilitation of ethnic cleansing through an email attachment.”
It remains unclear what – if any – action has been taken against organisers of the Great Israeli Real Estate Event.
There have been widening concerns about the UK's involvement in Israeli settlements after it was revealed that charities in England and Wales had donated £28m to illegal areas.
Melanie Ward MP said she has submitted a formal complaint to the Charity Commission after she came across evidence that illegal Israeli settlements have been receiving donations from the UK.
The Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Labour representative also claimed that if Gift Aid were claimed against the donations in the usual way, £5.6m worth of taxpayers' money could have gone towards the settlements.
