Carmel-Agrexco shut down as part of 'Boycott Israeli Goods' week of action
imc-uk-features | 28.09.2008 05:58 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | South Coast
The day before, at about 3:30am, activists with tipper trucks had dumped builders rubble across both gates of the depot. Protests against the sale of Israeli produce from occupied Palestinian land also took place outside supermarkets around the country, which account for 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports.
Previous Actions: Carmel Agrexco's Depot Shut Down in Commemoration of the Nakba | Fortress Carmel Agrexco breached by Peace Activists | Video - Carmel Agrexco protest during Camp for Climate Action | Weekend of Action Against Carmel Agrexco | Activists Blockade Carmel-Agrexco's UK Headquarters for the Third Time | International Actions against Israeli Apartheid
Further reading: Text of letter to Carmel-Agrexco | Report on Carmel's involvement in the Jordan Valley | War on Want's report: Profiting from the Occupation
The Israeli government has a 50% stake in Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd, whose exports include flowers, avocados and herbs grown in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Earlier this month, an Israeli ministerial committee decided that the company will be privatised.
Carmel-Agrexco, Agrexco's biggest fresh agricultural produce brand, had disclosed that the company exports fresh produce from several illegal Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, Palestine. The Mehola settlement in the central Jordan Valley is one of them.
Protesters argue that Agrexco's harvesting and sale of goods from illegal settlements built in the Palestinian Occupied Territories have only been enabled by eviction, murder and theft of resources, which are considered "war crimes" under the International Criminal Courts Act 2001. As such, Agrexco's business of importing fresh produce into the UK is "unlawful business".
imc-uk-features
Additions
updates
28.09.2008 09:55
Police have come round and said if protesters did not leave soon they will have to use "reasonable force" to remove them. The atmosphere is cheerful and relaxed as the sun has come up and it's a bit warmer now.
on the phone
UPDATE
28.09.2008 12:41
Police have been talking loudly of cutting protestors D-locks but so far no serious action has taken place in this vein. The activists have challenged the legality of cutting off protestors who the police have stated "are committing no crime".
Carmel is at Swallowfield way, Hayes, near Heathrow airport. Pay them a visit.
Brett
update
28.09.2008 15:48
One man has been unlawfully arrested for "obstruction" despite moving when asked.
will post more updates when there is more news
King Leanord
action ended
29.09.2008 21:48
dispatch
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