UK MPs urge government action over London event advertising settlement-linked Israeli agency

Fifteen UK MPs have penned a letter to the government, demanding immediate action to prevent a London event from advertising an Israeli agency responsible for constructing illegal settlements. The World Travel Market (WTM) event, slated for November 3-5, will feature a stand managed by the Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA), a statutory entity of the Israeli government.

The JDA is instrumental in development initiatives in East Jerusalem and is synonymous with the establishment of unauthorized Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

In their letter, MPs from various political affiliations - including Labour, the Green Party, the Scottish National Party, and independent MPs - implored the British government to contact the WTM organizers and require the removal of any promotional material endorsing these illegal activities. They also urged the government to confirm the practical steps being taken to enforce a ban on such advertising, rather than merely stating commitments in parliament.

The MPs underscored that the UK government's stance against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and its sanctions on Israeli settlements should not be contradicted by promoting entities implicated in these illegal activities. They pointed to 2025 data from the European Union Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which revealed the JDA's plans for the eviction of Umm Haroun Palestinian families and the construction of a 320-unit settlement in Sheikh Jarrah.

The Palestinian ambassador to Britain, Hussam Zomlot, criticized the WTM for allowing Israeli companies involved in "ethnic cleansing" to participate in the event. He demanded that the UK government translate its words into action by enforcing the promised commitments against illegal occupation and settlements. The MPs demanded a concrete response from the government, expressing disappointment with a mere restatement of the government's position.