Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
LDRS
Sir Sadiq Khan has condemned the Great Israeli Real Estate event due to take place in London this weekend.
Campaigners have accused the property roadshow of promoting the sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Organisers have denied they will feature land for sale in the West Bank, describing the allegations as “ridiculous”.
On Friday, Sir Sadiq told Mayor’s Question Time that he had been in touch with the Met and had discussion with the Foreign Office and Home Office regarding the event after Green Party leader Zack Polanski raised concerns.
The Mayor of London said: “Israeli settlements in the West Bank are unjustifiable and illegal under international law.
“They are deeply tied to the ongoing displacement of Palestinians. I condemn any attempt to sell property in the settlements in the West Bank, be that in London or anywhere else in the world.
“I share concerns about the Great Israeli Real Estate event taking place in our city, which I oppose.
“That’s why I’ve discussed this directly with the Met police. I’m informed that any allegations of criminality relating to the potential unlawful sale property at the event would be assessed by the Met with a view to investigation.”
It comes as almost 100 MPs and peers signed a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling on her to stop the event.
The letter states that property will be for advertised for sale in Gush Etzion, which is regarded as occupied territory of the State of Palestine.
“The UK government must now take all necessary steps to ensure Sunday’s planned event promoting illegal activities does not proceed in our capital,” the letter reads.
My Home in Israel, a real estate agency that encourages overseas clients to buy property in the country, organised the roadshow.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty, have criticised the event, claiming it openly advertises the sale of land in illegal Israeli settlements.
After facing calls to ban the event in the Commons, 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”.
