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Carmel Blockaded in Jayyous Solidarity Action

Katy Philips | 08.03.2009 07:18 | Campaign against Carmel-Agrexco | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | Palestine | South Coast | World

Press Release:


At around 6:30 this morning a group of students from Brighton locked themselves to Carmel Agrexco, the Israeli state owned export company, to protest against their complicity in the illegal annexation of the West Bank and the repression of students in the Palestinian village of Jayyous.

Carmel Agrexco grows and imports agricultural produce (including fruit, vegetables and flowers) from illegal settlements in the West Bank which are then sold in supermarkets such as Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and many others. As such, companies such as Carmel Agrexco are responsible for the systematic annexation of Palestinian land.

In these settlements workers, including children, are known to work in slave-labour conditions, with low wages, inadequate access to food and water, and no contract. Furthermore, the settlements have not only stolen land, but use up much needed agricultural resources such as water.

This action has been done in response to a callout for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, after the events of 18th February and onwards in Jayyous. On this day, occupying Israeli Defence Force soldiers invaded the town of Jayyous, where regular protests have been held against the building of the apartheid wall, which will annex 5,585 dunums (558.5 hectares) of land from the town, much of which is to be used for the expansion of the illegal settlement, Zufim.

75 soldiers and 25 army jeeps invaded the town in the early hours of the morning, conducting house to house raids: throwing sound-bombs at houses before forcing families out at gunpoint and ransacking their houses. At least 75 people were arrested, the vast majority students, including the entire student Stop the Wall Committee. Those arrested were taken to a school that the army had turned into a detention centre. Most of the people were blindfolded and handcuffed and all were forced to sit in stress positions. They were not allowed to eat, drink or talk to each other as they were taken in for interrogation one by one. They were held for as much as 19 hours and 15 young men were taken to Huwarra military base on unknown charges. Bulldozers were then brought in which created blockades at the entrances to the town and the population were put under curfew for 18 hours.

Since then, the village has been invaded two further times, on the second time a half-day curfew was imposed on the town. Residents have also been threatened with home demolitions.

James Robinson, one of the protestors, said “the situation in Jayyous is demonstrative of the systematic human rights abuses perpetrated against the Palestinians for the expansion of the settlements which Carmel Agrexco supports and profits from”.

Press Contact: Katie Phillips 07774083705

 studentboycott@hotmail.com

Katy Philips
- e-mail: studentboycott@hotmail.com

Additions

Update

08.03.2009 08:00

both gates are completely blocked to vehicles with people locked on to ladders. One person is superglued to the tarmac.

Police have been provocative and violent and have tried to forcibly remove the superglued person

Situation has calmed now and ambulances have arrived

Amusingly, the police say they have called the fire brigade to 'drill up the concrete' around the locked on person

VIVA PALESTINA

updater


further update

08.03.2009 08:30

the person superglued has had their hand detached from the tarmac but the gate is still fully blocked

several trucks have been tuned away from the depot and four or five trucks are waiting outside unable to enter

updater


Blockade moved by police

08.03.2009 08:44

the police have now managed to move one of the blockaders and unlock the gate

they are debating whether to arrest her

One person remains locked on

updater


more updates

08.03.2009 11:21

The 2nd lock on unlocked shortly after the first

the poice searched everyone under section 60(b) (!) (they said a senior officer was present)

Several banners and flags were confiscated for no reason whatsoever and the police have refused to return them

there were no arrests

updater


Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

well done

08.03.2009 11:14

it seems nearly every day i check indymedia and some folks from brighton have gone out and locked themselves to things. makes me want to join in...

you have my utter admiration for bringing attention to the abuses being carried out by the israeli forces in palestine. Hope the weather stays good for you all.

supporter from brighton


Well done!

08.03.2009 11:46

Great action everyone! They must begin to feel the pressure by now...Lets keep it up.

Greetings from Sweden...


brighton students rock

08.03.2009 12:35

as the police aren't arresting blockaders or at least when they do dropping charges before the trial, this is a campaign that can easily be won with people getting off their backsides. A recent arrest and charging of a blockader from September 2008 was dropped by cops in January just before trial 'for lack of evidence'.

During the Faslane 365 campaign when they the cops were arresting groups still came from all over the country and from further afield to blockade.
When will the PSC and other groups who purport to support Palestine put their bodies where their mouths are. if they need help with blockading i'm sure there are folk to do so - or is it that the hierarchical socialist/muslim dominated 'Palestinian solidarity' groups have other agendas? What about 'Victory to the Intifada' (part of the hierarchical Revolutionary Communist Group) with their weekly M&S pickets - wouldn't their time be spent more productively at Agrexco?

settlement watch


no prosecutions /convictions in over 4 years of blockades

08.03.2009 14:05


its important for all to realise what is happening at Agrexco

since 7 activists were acquitted of aggravated trespass for blockading the Hayes depot-an action that took place on 11 nov 2004-there have been numerous protests blockades direct actions involving lockons and even entering the warehouse, and although arrested on the day no one has ever been prosecuted to the point of being brought to trial

the reason is Agrexco will not give witness evidence in these potental trials because they don't want to be questioned about the lawfulness of exporting goods from illegal settlements. Agg tress charges require 'lawful activity' to be disrupted for their to be a crime.

Agrexco are plainly acting illegally in continuing these exports and dont want it brought to light in court.

endorsement


Do Join in

08.03.2009 16:55

Come to the Noise demos outside our local bomb factory EDO/ITT every Wednesday 4-6pm on Home Farm Road, Moulescoomb. Or simply boycott all Israeli goods!

blockader


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