JERUSALEM (JTA) — The British Embassy in Israel called off a move to new offices because the building’s owner is involved in West Bank construction.
The building is partly owned by the Africa-Israel Investments Ltd. real estate company; a subsidiary of the firm owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev that has built homes in three West Bank settlements. Leviev recently settled in Britain.
The British Embassy received documents from Africa-Israel Investments a week ago detailing its activities in the West Bank. Based on that information, the embassy decided not to rent the property. A lease had not been signed.
The planned move was announced a year ago. After media coverage of the move, as well as the activities of the company, pro-Palestinian groups began protesting the British foreign office.
Britain does not deal with companies based in Jewish settlements, according to The Associated Press.
