Key information
Publication type: General
Publication status: Adopted
Publication date:
(By email)
16th June 2026
Dear Sadiq,
‘Great Israeli Real Estate’ event
During Mayor's Question Time last week I asked you to put pressure on the government to ban the “unlawful” ‘Great Israeli Real Estate.’
You clarified that you had discussed the event with the Metropolitan Police Service and stated that any allegations of criminality relating to the potentially unlawful sale of property at the event would be assessed by the Met as part of an investigation.
It has since come to light that materials handed out at the ‘Great Israeli Real Estate’ event included properties in Ma'Ale Adumin and Givat Zeev in the West Bank and Ramat Eshkol and Givat HaMatos in East Jerusalem. [1] These settlements are illegal under international law.
This event should never have been allowed to happen in our city. There was substantial evidence ahead of the event that organisers were advertising properties in illegal settlements. More than 100 organisations, including human rights groups, as well as over 100 MPs called for the ‘Great Israeli Real Estate’ event to be cancelled.
The UK Government has repeatedly affirmed that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. [2] With horrific settler violence against Palestinians on the rise, it’s more important than ever that those involved in hosting this deplorable event in our city are not allowed to act with impunity.
The Proceeds of Crime Act makes it illegal for promoters and estate agents operating in the UK to facilitate the sale of land acquired through illegal conduct. [3]
Yvette Cooper has confirmed that the Advertising Standards Authority will investigate Sunday's event but that response is completely inadequate. This needs to be escalated to the Metropolitan Police Service immediately, anything less fails to reflect the seriousness of the situation.
Following your discussion with the Met, why was a decision not made to ban the event given the clear and mounting evidence that justified its cancellation and how was it assessed that the event should go ahead? Could you also confirm whether the Metropolitan Police will be investigating the unlawful activities that took place on Sunday.
You also mentioned during Mayor’s Question Time that your office was engaging with both the Home Office and the Foreign Office. What outcomes resulted from those discussions and in light of new information confirming the illegal activities that took place at the event, what action will you now take?
Yours Sincerely,
Zack Polanski
Green Party Member of the London Assembly
