Inside the ‘unacceptable’ UK fair selling property in Israeli settlements
Activists say there was no mention of Palestinians, but participants claimed the war on Gaza could mean property discounts. London, United Kingdom – Activists who
Activists say there was no mention of Palestinians, but participants claimed the war on Gaza could mean property discounts. London, United Kingdom – Activists who gained access to the widely condemned Great Israeli Real Estate Event in London have shared photos with Al Jazeera that show property in illegal settlements being marketed. The invite-only event, held at Edgware United Synagogue, was part of a roadshow promoting the sale of land and property in Israel, but in reality, these included homes in areas such as Givat Zeev and Tivuch Shelly in the occupied West Bank, as well as settlements in East Jerusalem. “Exciting new project just 10 minutes from Jerusalem!” read a leaflet homes, “some with pools!” in Maale Adumim, a West Bank settlement illegal under international law. Isabel, a member of the Jewish Anti-Zionist Action group who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said that the mood at the fair was peaceful and heavily protected, including by plainclothes men fitted with body cameras. She did not hear any participants mention Palestinians, she said, adding that when it came to the occupied Palestinian territory, real estate agents spoke of “Anglo-communities” where English-speaking people from the United States, the UK and South Africa could relocate to. She said a popular selling point used by real estate agents was that due to the war on Gaza, it was a good time to buy property in Israel, as prices had dropped and they might be willing to offer a discount.
The atmosphere reminded her of the opening week of university with social chatter, stalls and strangers pushing flyers at attendees. “Unlike outside the synagogue, where there was lots of protests, it was calm inside with a heavy police presence, [security] people even wearing body cams. The room was all set up with stalls, in what I would describe as like freshers’ fair. On the tables were free pens, chocolates.” When Isabel spoke with representatives from the Israeli real estate company Harey Zahav, she was shown for properties in Jerusalem as well as Netanya, a resort city in central Israel. More than 100 British legislators, including members of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, had signed a letter on Friday urging the government to “uphold its obligations under international law” and ensure the event “promoting illegal activities does not proceed”. Layla Moran, a British MP of Palestinian descent and one of the letter’s signatories, described the sales as “unacceptable”. Gaza war could mean discounts, said participants When Isabel told participants she was interested in something a little quieter, they said in hushed tones that they also had a portfolio of properties in “Judea and Samaria”, the Israeli term for the occupied West Bank. One representative said that organisers asked them not to properties in these locations. When asked why, he said it was due to these “crazy times” when people wanted to stop purchasing property in Israel.
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