London, 13th August 2026 – Following a number of complaints submitted in relation to the “Great Israeli Real Estate” event that took place in London on the 14th of June 2026, which promoted the sale of a number of properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), the Charity Commission has confirmed that it formally engaged with the trustees of Edgware United Synagogue and exercised its statutory powers under section 15(2) of the Charities Act 2011 to issue regulatory advice and guidance concerning the charity’s decision to host the event.
The Commission confirmed that the trustees are expected to take account of and act upon that guidance going forward. The exercise of the Commission’s statutory regulatory powers reflects its assessment that the issues raised by the complaint warranted formal regulatory engagement.
ICJP’s complaint argued that the synagogue had permitted its charitable premises and resources to be used to host a commercial event promoting the sale of properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, despite having received detailed legal warnings before the event took place. The complaint raised serious concerns regarding trustee governance, the discharge of trustees’ legal duties, due diligence, the use of charitable assets, reputational risk, and the fundamental obligation of charity trustees to act exclusively in the best interests of their charity while maintaining public trust and confidence.
ICJP’s complaint also argued that, in permitting the event to proceed, the trustees failed to give proper consideration to these legal obligations despite being placed on notice of the risks in advance.
The Charity Commission’s decision to issue formal regulatory guidance demonstrates that these concerns were sufficiently serious to warrant regulatory intervention. While the Commission did not open a statutory inquiry, its engagement makes clear that charities cannot ignore credible legal concerns where their premises or resources are used to facilitate activities connected to illegal Israeli settlements.
While the Commission’s response sends an important message to the wider charitable sector that trustees are expected to undertake proper legal due diligence, carefully assess reputational and regulatory risks, and ensure that charitable assets are not used in ways that may conflict with their legal duties, ICJP considers that the Commission’s response did not go far enough, especially in relation to the serious nature of the conduct in question.
The evidence submitted by ICJP demonstrated that the event involved the promotion of properties for sale in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, activity that engages serious concerns under both international law and UK charity law. In those circumstances, ICJP considers that formal regulatory guidance alone was an insufficient response. Where a charity permitsits premises and resources to be used in connection with conduct that raises such serious legal concerns, the Charity Commission should take robust regulatory action to uphold charity law and protect public trust and confidence in the charitable sector.
The UK Government has consistently maintained that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) are unlawful under international law. That position was reinforced by the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 Advisory Opinion, which confirmed that states must not recognise as lawful, or assist in maintaining, Israel’s unlawful presence in the oPt, including Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise which continues to expand rapidly and is considered one of the most dangerous policies of the Israeli Government.
Against that backdrop, ICJP considers that, while the Charity Commission’s regulatory engagement is welcome, the evidence submitted warranted a far more robust regulatory response to the use of charitable premises and resources to facilitate the promotion of properties in illegal Israeli settlements.
Regulatory guidance alone is not an adequate response where a charity has been placed on notice of serious legal concerns in advance of an event yet proceeds regardless. The Charity Commission must demonstrate that it is prepared to use the full range of its regulatory powers where charities risk facilitating conduct connected to serious breaches of international law. Failing to do so risks undermining public confidence in charity regulation and sending the wrong message to trustees about the standards expected of them under charity law.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected].
Image: Justin McIntosh via Wikimedia Commons
