London Travel Expo to Feature Israeli Agency Behind Settlement Projects

An Israeli government agency involved in building settlements in occupied East Jerusalem will have a presence at a major London travel event this week.

World Travel Market London runs from November 3 to 5. The Israeli government's tourist office is operating a shared stand at the venue. This stand includes a booth for iTravelJerusalem. That organization promotes tourism in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and is managed by the Jerusalem Development Authority.

The Jerusalem Development Authority is a statutory agency of the Israeli government and the Jerusalem municipality. It carries out development initiatives across the city. A 2025 report by the Office of the European Union Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip detailed JDA plans for the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The agency planned to evict the Umm Haroun compound. That compound is home to approximately 40 Palestinian families. The JDA also planned to build a 320-unit settlement on that land.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement cited the agency in 2020. It stated that the JDA illegally expropriates Palestinian land for development projects. The movement noted that hundreds of Palestinians have been displaced or face forced removal for these projects. It also identified the JDA as instrumental in expanding settlements in East Jerusalem, including the Gilo settlement.

The Israeli stand at the event is also shared with Africa Israel Hotels. That company is part of the Africa Israel Group and has been involved in settlement projects in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The JDA is currently promoting the renovation of the Mamilla Pool tourist site. Critics say this renovation threatens a centuries-old Palestinian Muslim cemetery.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband addressed the issue in parliament in September. He referred to a previous London expo that advertised illegal settlement land. Miliband stated that the UK would ban the advertising of illegal settlements in the country. Last month, the British government recognized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory as illegal. In 2010, the UK advertising regulator banned an Israeli tourist campaign for implying that East Jerusalem was part of the state of Israel.

WTM did not respond to a request for comment before publication. The event's website describes WTM London as the world's most influential travel and tourism event. It states that the gathering brings together the international leisure travel industry to create opportunity.