ei: Carmel Agrexco's UK headquarters in Hayes blockaded

Early this morning, Palestine solidarity activists blockaded the Israeli Company Carmel Agrexco's UK headquarters. This was part of a non-violent protest against recurrent breaches of human rights and international law in the occupied territories of Palestine.

Carmel is complicit in war crimes under the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (ICC Act). They import fresh produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories.

The purpose of the protest is to highlight Agrexco's illegal activity in court. The action follows a legal warning letter to Carmel stating clearly why they are in breach of the law.

The action took place at Agrexco UK, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex, Israel's largest importer of agricultural produce into the European Union. It is 50% Israeli State owned.

Protesters used wire fencing and bicycle D-Locks in a well-planned blockade at the two entrances to the building. At 5:30am several protestors locked themselves on to the Company's gates and internal barriers blocking access to the property. At 6:30am the police arrived but were prevented from accessing the property by the human blockade. Several company trucks have also been stopped.

Before taking part in the blockade, many of the protesters had witnessed first hand the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli military occupation.

This follows from actions of 11th November 2004, when Palestine-Solidarity protesters from London and Brighton were arrested after taking part in non-violent blockades outside the same company and 30 August 2006, When demonstrators blockaded the company for 11 hours and no arrests were made.

September 2005, a Judge ruled that Agrexco (UK) must prove that their business is lawful. The acquittal of the seven activists before they were able to present their defence meant that the court did not have to rule on the legality of Agrexco-Carmel's involvement in the supply of produce from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

In September 2006 protesters blockaded the company again, Carmel refused to have demonstrators arrested becuse this would have lead to another embarrassing court appearance where their business methods would havebeen investigated by a British court of law.

Today's blockade aims to expose this company's complicity in murder, theft and damage of occupied land, collective punishment, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and other breaches of International Law to public and legal scrutiny.

Related Links

UK Headquarters of Israeli Company Blockaded to Gain Ruling on Legality of Trading with Settlements, Mary Nazzal-Batayneh (3 September 2006)

Profiting from the Occupation: The corporate interests fuelling conflict in Palestine, Nick Dearden, War on Want (6 July 2006)