The Charity Commission is assessing concerns raised about an event, held on charity premises, which allegedly advertised properties for sale in illegal settlements.
Earlier this month, the Edgware United Synagogue hosted the Great Israeli Real Estate event, which allegedly promoted property located in illegal settlements in occupied Palestine.
Prior to the event, 100 MPs signed a letter urging foreign secretary Yvette Cooper to prevent the event from taking place.
This came days after Cooper contacted the commission about charities with alleged links to settlements and prime minister Keir Starmer said that “no UK charity should be supporting them”.
The International Centre for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) issued a Serious Crime Prevention Order letter to the Metropolitan Police detailing the legal issues in relation to the event under the Serious Crime Act.
Nevertheless, the event was held on 14 June, after which the ICJP wrote to the commission, urging it to open a compliance case into the United Synagogue charity regarding the conduct of its trustees in connection with the hosting of the event.
Órlaith Roe, ICJP’s public affairs and communications officer, said: “Despite extensive warnings from our organisation and others, this event went ahead and promoted property located in illegal Israeli settlements.
“We now have concrete evidence of what many feared: a registered UK charity facilitated the marketing of property in settlements that the UK government itself recognises as unlawful and a ‘flagrant violation’ of international law.”
A commission spokesperson did not confirm that it had opened a compliance case but said the regulator was “assessing concerns” at the charity.
“Our assessment will determine what regulatory role there is, if any, for the commission,” they said.
“In line with our guidance, the charity has submitted a serious incident report relating to concerns raised about the event.”
Advertising regulator contacted
Green MP Ellie Chowns raised concerns about the event with Cooper in parliament on 16 June, in response to which she said the the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) had been alerted.
Cooper said: “We have been very clear not only that no businesses should be engaging in trade or marketing around the illegal settlements, but that they certainly should not be doing so on UK soil.
“We take this issue so seriously, which is why the minister for the Middle East and North Africa and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have raised it directly with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
“We have asked the authority to urgently look into the matter and reassure us that, if there is any evidence of the advertising or promotion of property in illegal settlements at that event or any others, it will uphold the law, regulations and guidance that apply.
“It is extremely important that those standards are met in the UK, and that is exactly why we have raised the matter so seriously with the ASA.”
Event organisers previously told Jewish News that their exhibitors would not be providing information about properties in the West Bank or Gaza.
“We believe these unfounded allegations are motivated by anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters, seeking only excuses to attack Jews in general and the state of Israel in particular,” they said.
United Synagogue has been contacted for comment.
