The Mayor of London has condemned an event in the capital that is believed to promote the sale of land and property in illegal Israeli settlements. Sir Sadiq Khan stated he had contacted the Met Police, the Home Office, and the Foreign Office regarding the "Great Israeli Real Estate Event," scheduled for this Sunday at an undisclosed location in London.
Mayor's Strong Condemnation
Responding to a question from Green Party Leader and Assembly Member Zack Polanski, the Mayor said: "Israeli settlements in the West Bank are unjustifiable and illegal under international law. I condemn any attempt to sell property in the settlements, be that in London or anywhere else in the world. I share concerns about the Great Israeli Real Estate taking place in our city, which I oppose."
Khan added: "I have discussed this directly with the Met Police. I'm informed that any allegations of criminality related to the unlawful sale of property at the event would be assessed by the Met with a view to investigation. I have always been clear in my condemnation of what is happening in Gaza and the Occupied Territories. If you are a British citizen or business, you should not conduct any economic or financial activities in illegal Israeli settlements."
Government Involvement
When asked by Mr Polanski at Friday's Mayor's Question Time session whether he had spoken to the Home Office about the event, the Mayor replied: "My office has been in touch with both the Foreign Office and Home Office. For reasons he will appreciate, I shouldn't comment any further."
Mr Polanski told the LDRS: "It is morally incomprehensible and unconscionable that this event is scheduled to take place in our city, and I welcome the Mayor's strong condemnation of Sunday's event and its breaches of international law. The key question now is what comes out of his talks with the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office. In practical terms, the Met Police should shut down the event on the grounds that it is unlawful. London risks becoming complicit in settlement expansion if people in our capital are profiting from the theft of Palestinian land. The Mayor should call on the Government to cancel this event outright. There is real fear that London is being used as a platform for an event associated with the confiscation of land and the destruction of homes. The cancellation of this event would demonstrate that London will not tolerate complicity in the dispossession and subjugation of the Palestinian people."
Wider Criticism
The event has also drawn criticism from human rights groups, including Amnesty International, which described it as "unthinkable" that the government would permit such an event to proceed. Earlier today, almost 100 MPs signed a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper demanding the event be blocked.
In the House of Commons earlier this week, Ms Cooper said the government would "warn any businesses against associating themselves with potential breaches of international law and with becoming involved in a process that is undermining peace and security in the region."
Event Organizer's Response
Last week, a spokesperson for the Great Israeli Real Estate Event strongly denied the allegations. "All exhibitors, without exception, will provide information about properties and projects within the Green Line," they told the Jewish News. "We believe that these ridiculous allegations are motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters, seeking only excuses to attack Jews in general and the State of Israel in particular."
The Met Police, Home Office, and Foreign Office were contacted for comment.
