About 1,000 people demonstrated for and against a show promoting the sale of property in Israel at a north-west London synagogue on Sunday, with police making 14 arrests.
The event, held at Edgware United synagogue in an area with a significant Jewish population, was opposed by groups claiming it also marketed land in occupied territories as part of an expansionist plan. Organisers denied this, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the protests were based on false pretences and amounted to intimidation.
Police attempted to keep rival protesters apart. Commander Adam Slonecki said officers had deployed to prevent serious disruption, using powers under the Public Order Act. He noted that Jewish communities were experiencing heightened fear after sustained protests and recent attacks.
Jeanine Hourani of the Palestinian Youth Movement said the event sought to normalise the selling of Palestinian homeland. Meanwhile, attendees at the invitation-only Great Israeli Real Estate Event passed through metal detectors.
Police reported five arrests for violent disorder, one of which also involved assaulting a police officer. Seven were arrested for Public Order Act offences, four allegedly racially or religiously aggravated, along with one for assaulting an officer and one for common assault.
Before the event, groups including Amnesty International and about 100 MPs and peers called for cancellation, arguing it would contradict UK guidance on settlement-related economic activity and international law.
