UK Advertising Regulator Has Not Investigated Settlement Property Event Despite Ministers' Request

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has not opened an investigation into the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, an event promoting properties in illegal Israeli settlements that the government itself referred for scrutiny, Middle East Eye has revealed.

The ASA told MEE it has not received any complaints that would give it grounds to investigate, and that it would only act if presented with evidence that illegal settlements were advertised there. That evidence already exists in public reporting.

On 14 June, the event was held at the Edgware United Synagogue in north London. MEE reported the following day that brochures and leaflets at the event advertised properties in occupied Palestinian territory. Harey Zahav developers promoted Kfar Eldad, a settlement south of Bethlehem, and Teneh Omarim, near Hebron. Tivuch Shelly, a major Israeli real estate agency, advertised a project in Ma'ale Adummim, calling it "an exciting new project just 10 minutes from Jerusalem." Jerusalem Real Estate advertised projects in French Hill and Ramat Eshkol, both in occupied East Jerusalem. The event's organisers later admitted the settlements were promoted "by mistake."

Two days after MEE's report, then foreign secretary Yvette Cooper told parliament that ministers had formally asked the ASA to intervene.

"We have asked them 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."

MEE understands that Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer and DCMS minister Ian Murray wrote to the ASA on 14 June, the same day the event took place, requesting it examine the evidence to ensure UK law and regulations were upheld. The ASA is an independent body and retains sole discretion over whether to open a formal case. More than two months later, it has not done so.

A parallel failure on the charity side

The Charity Commission, which oversees the Edgware United Synagogue as a registered charity, has separately criticised the synagogue's trustees for allowing the event to proceed. The Commission told MEE it is now reviewing its earlier decision to close a compliance case into the charity.

"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," the Commission said. It added that charity premises "must not be misused," and that its initial compliance review found trustees allowed the event to go ahead "despite their own misgivings" and an "organisation-wide decision to not permit it," without putting in place sufficient checks on the booking.

The Commission said it would consider escalating regulatory engagement if further concerns arise. No such escalation has been announced for the ASA's inaction, which remains, on the regulator's own account, contingent on someone else filing a formal complaint.