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Police urged to investigate London event advertising settlement-linked Israeli agency
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians has urged the Metropolitan Police to investigate the Jerusalem Development Authority’s reported participation in a London travel event. The request concerns the authority’s tourism platform, iTravelJerusalem, and its alleged links to the construction of illegal Israeli settlements.
The World Travel Market runs in London until Thursday and was due to feature a stand operated by the Israeli government’s tourist office. ICJP wrote to the Met’s war crimes team on Tuesday, asking it to consider urgent investigation and preventative measures. That day, Palestine Solidarity Campaign activists protested beside the stand with a banner reading “Every settlement is a war crime”.
In short
- ICJP asked the Met to investigate JDA’s reported role at WTM.
- iTravelJerusalem was due to appear at the London travel event.
- Pro-Palestine activists protested beside Israel’s stand on Tuesday.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The police should assess whether the reported links between the tourism platform and settlement construction provide grounds for investigation under applicable law, and consider proportionate steps to prevent potential offences. Given the serious allegations and the event’s presence in London, examining the evidence could show that the authorities are taking possible violations seriously without presuming guilt.
The case against
A police investigation or preventative measures should require a clear legal basis and credible evidence connecting the agency’s event participation to a specific offence; reported links alone may not establish that. Treating tourism promotion as grounds for intervention without that threshold could unfairly imply criminal responsibility and risk politicising routine policing.
Explained simply
The Jerusalem Development Authority is a body involved in promoting and developing Jerusalem, including through its iTravelJerusalem tourism platform. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is a legal group that says it works to advance Palestinian rights.
The dispute centres on claims that the tourism platform is linked to the building of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Many governments and international bodies regard those settlements as illegal under international law; Israel disputes that view. The Metropolitan Police can assess allegations of war crimes, but a request for an investigation is not a finding that a crime has occurred.
The World Travel Market is a large travel industry event held in London, where tourism organisations promote destinations and services. The issue matters because it raises questions about how tourism promotion relates to settlements and whether UK authorities should examine alleged links.
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