New York City Mayor Mamdani Condemns Israeli Real Estate Exhibition

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday condemned an Israeli real estate exhibition at a local synagogue that promoted homes and land in occupied West Bank settlements. The United Nations has affirmed that Israel’s occupation since 1967 is illegal, and therefore, the settlements built in the area are also illegal. Population transfers are prohibited by the Geneva Convention. “When we have a real estate exhibition promoting the sale of land, which includes the sale of land in the occupied West Bank in settlements that are a violation of international law, that is something I strongly disagree with,” the mayor told reporters. “I also believe that many New York residents strongly disagree with [it] because it has been at the core of ongoing efforts to displace Palestinian residents from their homes,” he added. On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered by the Palestinian Liberation Assembly (Pal-Awda) assembled near the Park East Synagogue to protest the second such event at the location since November. The event organisers at the synagogue promoted properties in the Kfar Eldad and Karnei Shomron settlements, as well as providing tax and mortgage advice for buyers. However, the protesters were kept one block away from the event by a large police presence and barricades.