Exclusive: UK's advertising regulator not investigating Great Israeli Real Estate Event

The UK's advertising regulator is not investigating a real estate event, referred to it by the government, which promoted properties in illegal Israeli settlements, Middle East Eye can reveal.

On 16 June, the then foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said in parliament that ministers had asked the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to "urgently" investigate the Great Israeli Real Estate Event.

On 15 June MEE had reported that properties in illegal Israeli settlements were advertised at the event, which was held a day earlier at the Edgware United Synagogue in London.

But MEE understands that the ASA has not opened an investigation into advertising by the Great Israeli Real Estate Event.

The ASA said it has not received any complaints which would give it grounds to do so, and that it would investigate the event if it was presented with evidence that illegal settlements were advertised there.

Cooper had said in parliament in June: "We have asked them [the ASA] to urgently investigate and reassure us that, if there is any evidence of advertising or promoting property in illegal settlements at this or any other events, they will uphold all relevant laws, regulations, and guidance."

The real estate event's organisers admitted, after reports by MEE and other news outlets, that properties in Israeli settlements were promoted there, saying it happened "by mistake".

MEE understands that Hamish Falconer, a minister in the Foreign Office, and Ian Murray, a minister in the department for Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, wrote to the ASA on 14 June.

They requested that the ASA examine any evidence of advertising or promoting property in illegal settlements to ensure UK law and regulations.

However, the ASA is independent and can make its own decision on whether it opens a formal investigation.

In June, MEE published photos of brochures and leaflets at the event which advertised property in occupied Palestinian territory and promoted companies with links to illegal settlements.

Harey Zahav developers participated in the event, promoting Kfar Eldad, an illegal West Bank settlement south of Bethlehem, and Teneh Omarim, another illegal settlement near Hebron.

Major Israeli real estate agency Tivuch Shelly advertised property in Ma'ale Adummim, an occupied West Bank settlement, in a brochure at the event, describing an "exciting new project just 10 minutes from Jerusalem!".

Jerusalem Real Estate, meanwhile, advertised projects in French Hill and Ramat Eshkol, illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, in a brochure.

Charity Commission criticism

Last week, in a statement to MEE, the Charity Commission criticised trustees of the Edgware United Synagogue in London for hosting the event.

The commission said it had decided to review a recent decision to close a compliance case involving the charity.

It told MEE that "should any further concerns about the charity arise we will consider escalating our regulatory engagement".

It said: "We share concerns about the potential impact, including on public trust and confidence, of registered charities being seen to actively assist in the development or expansion of illegal settlements in Palestine.

"We are also clear that charity premises must not be misused.

"Our initial compliance case found that despite their own misgivings about the event, and an organisation-wide decision to not permit it in their premises, the charity’s trustees allowed it to go ahead in one of its synagogues and did not put in place sufficient checks and controls to make sure the terms of that booking were kept."