Activists protesting against the illegal wall cutting off Palestinians from their work, schools and hospitals, today blockaded the Israeli company Agrexco UK which imports Carmel produce. The aim was to hightlight the continued existence of this illegal structure and to draw attention to the plight of Palestinian farmers in the occupied territories.
Blockade of Israeli Company by anti-wall protestors:
This morning, a group of activists have set up a blockade outside the
premises of Agrexco-UK. (Carmel House, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex
UB3 1DQ - Tel: 020-8848 7788 ).
Agrexco Ltd. is Israels 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 companys annual turnover for 2003
totaled E500 million. Agrexco is a partnership between the Israeli
government
(50%), Israeli growers represented by the countrys 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 years 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 rigime, 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
This morning, a group of activists have set up a blockade outside the
premises of Agrexco-UK. (Carmel House, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex
UB3 1DQ - Tel: 020-8848 7788 ).
Agrexco Ltd. is Israels 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 companys annual turnover for 2003
totaled E500 million. Agrexco is a partnership between the Israeli
government
(50%), Israeli growers represented by the countrys 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 years 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 rigime, 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
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