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

The World Travel Market event is set to begin on Tuesday and advertise the Jerusalem Development Authority Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband attends the meeting of the top diplomats in Istanbul on 23 October 2026 (AFP) Published date: 2 November 2026 17:27 GMT | Last update: 4 sec ago Fifteen MPs have written to the British government demanding "urgent action" to stop an international travel event in London, set to begin on Tuesday, from advertising an Israeli agency involved in the construction of illegal settlements. MEE revealed last week that the World Travel Market (WTM) event, which is scheduled to take place in London between 3-5 November, will feature a stand run by the Israeli government's tourist office. The Israeli stand is shared by numerous Israeli companies and organisations, including "iTravelJerusalem", which promotes tourism in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and is managed by the Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA). The JDA, a statutory agency of the Israeli government and the Jerusalem municipality, carries out development initiatives across Jerusalem and has been heavily involved in the construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory. Independent MP Adnan Hussain sent a letter to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Monday, which was signed by MPs from multiple parties, including Labour MPs John McDonnell and Kim Johnson, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The letter, seen by MEE, demands that the government "contact the organisers of WTM London and require the removal of exhibitors and promotional material where their participation would facilitate or promote illegal Israeli settlements". It asks the government to confirm "what steps are being taken to ensure that the ban on the advertising of illegal settlements is enforced in practice, rather than being confined to statements made in Parliament". Last month, the British government recognised Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory as illegal and announced comprehensive sanctions on Israeli settlements. All five Green Party MPs - Carla Denyer, Ellie Chownes, Hannah Spencer, Sian Berry and Adrian Ramsay - signed the letter, as did independent MPs Shockat Adam, Iqbal Mohamed and Ayoub Khan, as well as Scottish National Party MP Chris Law. The letter says: "The Government cannot credibly condemn the forced displacement of Palestinians, identify ethnic cleansing in the occupied Palestinian territory, and commit to prohibiting the promotion of illegal settlements in the United Kingdom, while allowing organisations implicated in these activities to use a major international event in London to promote their work." 'We expect an urgent response' According to a 2025 report by the Office of the European Union Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the JDA planned "for the eviction of the Umm Haroun compound - home to approximately 40 Palestinian families - and the construction of a 320-unit settlement" in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. Exclusive: London event advertises Israeli agency building illegal settlements Read More » In 2020, a JDA project to build a cable car in Jerusalem, which would involve the uprooting of trees and displacement of infrastructure including water, sewage and telecommunications, was approved by the Israeli government. The JDA also plans to build a large settlement housing project next to the Palestinian community of Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem. Hussam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to Britain, said in response to MEE's report last Thursday: "Next week Israeli companies guilty of ethnic cleansing will be platformed at [WTM London]." Zomlot added: "The UK government must now turn their words into action: enforce these commitments and ensure those complicit in illegal occupation and settlements face real consequences." Hussain's letter sent on Monday says: "We expect an urgent response setting out the specific steps you will take before the event opens. A response limited to restating the Government’s position will not suffice. "The question is no longer simply what the Government believes, but whether it is prepared to act on what it has said." MEE reached out to WTM and the Foreign Office for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.