WTM London to feature stand promoting Jerusalem Development Authority

An Israeli government agency responsible for building settlements in occupied East Jerusalem will have a presence at a major travel expo in London next week. The Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA) is listed among the organizations sharing a stand at the World Travel Market (WTM) London, which runs from November 3 to 5. The stand is operated by the Israeli government's tourist office and includes the entity iTravelJerusalem, which is managed by the JDA.

The JDA is a statutory body of the Israeli government and the Jerusalem municipality. It manages development projects across the city. The organization has been involved in the construction and expansion of settlements on occupied Palestinian territory. It also works to displace Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The BDS movement stated in 2020 that the JDA expropriates Palestinian land for biblical parks. This action has displaced hundreds of people or put them at risk of forced eviction.

A 2025 report from the European Union Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip detailed specific JDA plans. The agency planned to evict the Umm Haroun compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. This area is home to approximately 40 Palestinian families. The JDA intends to build a 320-unit settlement on the site. The agency is also advancing a cable car project in Jerusalem. This scheme requires the removal of trees and the relocation of water, sewage, and telecommunications infrastructure. Israeli NGO Emek Shaveh said the project aims to consolidate settler control in the Historic Basin.

The JDA is promoting other projects at the event. These include a large settlement housing project near the Palestinian community of Beit Safafa. The agency is also marketing the renovation of the Mamilla Pool tourist site in the old city. Critics argue this renovation threatens a centuries-old Palestinian Muslim cemetery. The Israeli stand at WTM London is also shared with Africa Israel Hotels. This company was previously part of the Africa Israel Group and has been involved in settlement projects in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The UK government took action against similar promotional activities this year. In June, it referred the Great Israeli Real Estate Event to the advertising regulator after properties in illegal settlements were advertised. The regulator did not open an investigation into that event, according to reporting in August. In September, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told parliament that the UK would ban the advertising of illegal settlements. He cited the recent expo as a reason for the move. The British government recognized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory as illegal last month.

In 2010, the UK advertising regulator banned an Israeli tourist press office campaign. The ban occurred because the ad included pictures of East Jerusalem. The regulator said the image implied the occupied territory was part of the state of Israel. This made the advertisement likely to mislead consumers. The status of the West Bank remains a subject of international dispute. WTM did not respond to requests for comment before this report was published.

The WTM London website describes the event as the world's most influential travel and tourism gathering. It claims to bring together the international leisure travel industry to create opportunities. The site states that travel professionals use the event to connect and build partnerships. The JDA's involvement brings a specific political dimension to this year's exhibition. The agency's presence highlights its role in tourism promotion alongside its development work in disputed areas.