Activists who went undercover at a London property fair obtained brochures advertising homes in Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land, prompting renewed calls for an investigation into the event and its organisers [Getty]
When campaigners finally uncovered the location of a controversial Israeli property fair in north London, they decided there was only one way to find out what was happening behind closed doors.
Posing as prospective buyers, activists entered The Great Israeli Real Estate Event and emerged with brochures advertising homes in Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land, evidence that has intensified calls for an investigation into the event and those who hosted it.
The event, held on Sunday at Edgware United Synagogue, had already drawn widespread criticism from politicians, human rights groups and campaigners, who warned it could facilitate the marketing of property in Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law.
For activists with Jewish Anti-Zionist Action (JAZA), the goal was to obtain proof.
“When I found out where it was, I thought if there was a way I could get in and get evidence, then I should try,” Isabel, an activist who asked not to be fully identified for safety reasons, told The New Arab.
Together with two fellow activists, she registered online and entered the event, where real estate companies, mortgage advisers, solicitors and relocation services were promoting opportunities for people looking to move to Israel and the occupied territories.
What they found confirmed the concerns campaigners had been raising for weeks. Brochures obtained by activists showed properties being marketed in settlements across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Among the developments featured were properties in Ramat Eshkol and French Hill in occupied East Jerusalem, marketed by Jerusalem Real Estate; Givat Hamatos and Ramat Eshkol, listed by Tivuch Shelly; Kfar Eldad and Teneh Omarim by Harey Zahav Developers; and Givat Zeev and Ma’ale Adumim by Yigal Realty.
For Isabel, the discovery was unsettling despite expecting to find evidence of settlement activity.
“To see the literal behind the scenes of ethnic cleansing happen in such a corporate environment right in front of my eyes…honestly, it was uncanny, and it was just upsetting,” she said. “I only really processed it when I got out, because I couldn’t afford to react obviously.”
The event comes as Israel continues expanding settlements across the occupied West Bank, accelerating a project widely condemned by rights groups as a form of land appropriation and a major obstacle to Palestinian self-determination.
Having spent more than a month documenting conditions in the occupied West Bank, Isabel said the settlements’ impact extended far beyond the seizure of land.
“It completely just suffocates and strangulates life there,” she said. “I saw the impact that it has just spiritually, emotionally, on these Palestinians that have lived there all their lives, to constantly have to defend themselves as owning this land.”
While working in the South Hebron Hills, she said she witnessed repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, including assaults, arson and livestock theft.
“I saw young settlers running out of their settlement outpost with pepper spray, bats and sticks and attacking and sending Palestinians to the hospital,” she recalled.
For campaigners, the fact that companies linked to settlements were openly marketing properties in London was deeply alarming.
The activists remained inside long enough to collect brochures and observe presentations encouraging Jewish immigration to Israel before one member of the group interrupted proceedings.
“This event sells property on illegally occupied, stolen Palestinian land,” the activist shouted before security intervened and the group was removed.
For Isabel, being expelled mattered less than what they left with.
“Mostly, I feel proud,” she said. “Being able to be like ‘okay, here’s the evidence this is wrong, you’re lying’, and be able to back that up materially was a good feeling.”
Outside the venue, hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against what they described as the promotion of property built on occupied Palestinian land.
Tensions quickly escalated and campaigners reported harassment and assaults by counter-protesters, while police made multiple arrests as rival groups faced off outside the synagogue.
“Everyone was really shaken up when I joined, because they’d been harassed and had to break up loads of fights,” Isabel said.
She described hearing chants denying Palestinian identity and witnessing confrontations involving both pro-Palestine demonstrators and Jewish anti-Zionist activists.
Reflecting on the day, Isabel said the experience left her with mixed emotions.
“It was just so deplorable to see that, not just in conjunction with Edgware, which is so close to where I grew up, but also just in London, just in the Jewish community,” she said.
“I’m both propelled to keep going to do more, but I’m also incredibly saddened, especially as someone that grew up near Edgware to have witnessed that, so kind of close to home.”
