Agrexco Ltd. is Israel’s largest exporter of fresh agricultural produce.
Exporting under the premium CARMEL label, Agrexco markets over 300,000 tons
of fresh produce per year, of which 20% are fruits, 10% citrus, 30%
vegetables, 30% flowers, 4% general products and processed food, and 6%
plants and propagation materials. The company’s annual turnover for 2003
totaled E500 million. Agrexco is a partnership between the Israeli government
(50%), Israeli growers represented by the country’s production and marketing
boards (25%), and the Tnuva cooperative (25%).
( http://duns100.dundb.co.il/600000764/)

The protest forms part of the 2nd International Week against the Apartheid
Wall, which has been called by the Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
( http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/800.shtml)

This year’s call for mobilization to tear down the Apartheid Wall and end
Israeli Occupation is part of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign and
Palestinian demand for immediate and concrete action on all levels – boycott,
divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid –to bring an end to
Israeli Apartheid and Occupation.

Many of the activists taking part have been to Palestine and have witnessed
the misery that is caused by the construction of the euphemistically
named “separation barrier”, which has resulted in the de facto confiscation
of thousands of dunams of agricultural land, and further severe restrictions
on the freedom of movement of the communities nearest to the structure.

The structure was declared illegal under international law, in a ruling by
the International Court of Justice in the Hague, on July 9th, 2004.
( http://stopthewall.org/internationallaw/653.shtml )

The ruling stated that:

“The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated régime, are contrary to international law;”

and that:

“Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international
law; it is under an obligation to cease forthwith the works of construction
of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in
and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle forthwith the structure therein
situated, and to repeal or render ineffective forthwith all legislative and
regulatory acts relating thereto, in accordance with paragraph 151 of this
Opinion;”

Since the ruling was made, Israel has continued to build the structure on
illegally occupied Palestinian land, and if anything has speeded up the
construction. Whilst declaring that it intends to unilaterally “disengage”
from Occupied Gaza, Israel has continued to confiscate and destroy
agricultural land in Gaza and the west Bank, and is currently constructing
more residential units in both areas.

The “disengagement plan” would leave Gaza under continued occupation, with
Israel controlling its economy, borders, sea and air. Israel has also
retained the “right” to attack Gaza whenever it cares to.

Despite the fact that the ICJ ruled that:

“All States are under an obligation not to recognize the illegal situation
resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or
assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction; all
States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 have in addition the
obligation, while respecting the United Nations Charter and international
law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as
embodied in that Convention;”

the UK continues to offer Israel favourable trading conditions under the
Israel-EU Association Agreement.

The activists are calling on Israel and the rest of the world to honour their
obligations under International law, and on the British people and government
to end the Israel-EU Association Agreement and to boycott Israeli Goods until
such time as Israel honours its obligations.

For a PDF of the leaflet being handed out by protestors, go to
 http://www.c4p.org.uk/the_wall_must_fall.pdf