The World Travel Market, one of the travel industry's major international exhibitions, is reportedly featuring an Israeli agency involved in the expansion of illegal settlements and the displacement of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.
The event, taking place at ExCeL London from 3–5 November, includes a stand operated by the Israeli government's tourist office. The stand is shared with several Israeli organisations and companies, including iTravelJerusalem, a tourism platform managed by the Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA).
The JDA is a statutory agency of the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality, involved in development projects across the occupied city. These include plans for a 320-unit Israeli settlement at Umm Haroun in Sheikh Jarrah, which would displace approximately 40 Palestinian families.
The revelations prompted calls for the British government and exhibition organisers to intervene. On 2 November, 15 MPs wrote to the government demanding urgent action to prevent the event from advertising the agency.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) sent a formal legal letter to both the World Travel Market organisers and ExCeL London, warning that providing a platform to an agency involved in settlement development raises serious questions about their human rights responsibilities.
The inclusion of this agency has also raised questions about the UK government's own commitments. In September, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the government would prohibit the advertising of illegal settlements in Britain, stating: “Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country.”
Even so, the stall’s attendance was confirmed as the expo began today.
