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Palestinian Lunch against Trade with Israel

Justice for Palestine | 06.01.2006 11:39 | Repression | Social Struggles | London | South Coast

On Monday 23rd January there will be a Palestinian Lunch to support the Uxbridge Seven outside Uxbridge Magistrates Court, Middlesex from 1-2. The trial lasts from 23rd January - 2nd February.

Seven Palestine solidarity protesters from London and Brighton were arrested on 11th November last year after they took part in a non-violent blockade outside the UK base of an Israeli agricultural export company Agrexco (UK) Ltd, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex.

Agrexco is Israel's largest importer of agricultural produce into the European Union, and it is 50% Israeli state owned. It imports produce from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The protesters will argue as a defence that they were acting to prevent crimes against International law that are also illegal in the UK under the International Criminal Court Act.

The protestors will face trial at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, between the 23rd January to second Febuary 2006.They are each charged with two offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Section 68: (Aggravated Trespass) and Section 69: (Failure To Leave Land.)

In a well planned operation, using wire fences and bicycle D-Locks they succeeded in blockading the distribution centre, blocking all motor vehicle traffic in and out of the building. Pedestrians and workers were still able to enter and leave the factory without obstruction. No-one was put in any personal danger by the presence of the blockade.

Carmel-Agrexco is 50% owned by the state of Israel, and imports produce from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. At the same time Israeli forces have blocked Palestinian exports from the occupied territories preventing them from taking full advantage of a EU-PA trade deal. Israeli
sponsored settlements have appropriated land and water resources my military order from Palestinian farmers in a deliberate policy of militarily back colonisation.

The defendants will argue that since the settlements are illegal under international law, and that Israel continues to expand these settlements, in flagrant disregard of the same international law, that if the Agrexco blockade did cause any disruption to its business, it was not against a lawful business (as required by the charge of aggravated trespass), but rather a business involved in aiding and abetting crimes against international law. The defendant's legal argument is that the activities of Agrexco are unlawful in that the company trades with illegal colonial settlements established in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as these are contrary to, Section 52 of the International Criminal Courts (ICC) Act
2001. and the Geneva Conventions Act (GC)1957.* (See note below)

Before taking part in this action many of the defendants had witnessed first hand the suffering of Palestinian communities under the brutal Israeli occupation, having served as volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), documenting human rights abuses by the IDF in the West Bank and Gaza, and taking part in non-violent civil resistance to the occupation organized by Palestinian civilian committees.

An expert witness for the defense will be Professor George Joffe, who is a visiting professor in Geography at King's College London, and lecturer at the Centre for International Studies at Cambridge University. Prof. Joffe is
considered to be one of the foremost authorities on the Middle East politics in the UK, being widely published in academic journals, as well as quoted in mainstream print, television and radio journalism.

The professor was one of a handful of experts invited by PM Tony Blair to give advice about the effects of a possible Iraq war before it took place.
Joffe has been outspoken in his criticism of the decision to go to war, and Israel's expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. He says in a report commissioned for the Uxbridge case;

"There is no doubt that, under international law, the complex of settlements, interlinking road systems and the Separation Wall are considered to be illegal. Many aspects of them are illegal under Israeli domestic law as well."

Other witnesses will include Palestinians affected by the occupation who will be present in court to give first hand testimony about the effect of Agrexco's business in the occupied Jordon Valley.

The defendants are hoping the trial will bring greater awareness to a wider campaign to boycott Israeli goods, that seeks by economic means to pressure Israel into reversing a policy of systematic racism and colonialism that has
been ongoing for five decades.

Justice for Palestine

Comments

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link to report and pics of the Carmel blockade

06.01.2006 13:29

Our duty is to expose and resist Israel's apartheid against Palestinians


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

more IM anti-semitism dressed up as concern for Palestinians

06.01.2006 14:08

Yet another article about how group are trying to use the Israeli Palestinian tension for their own anti-Jewish agenda. I presume there are those too stupid to see through the charade otherwise these groups wouldn't continue but the majority of us are not that thick !

There is no place for anti-semitism within the activist community and IM should be ashamed it continues to allow these posts to remain, perhaps the involvement of the truly appaling Roy Bard (aka FTP) who is still allowed to work as an IM London editor explains the bias over this area.

The credibility of the UK IM site is at an all time low at the moment and for bloody good reasons, if it wants to stop its never ending reduction in readers and contributors it must take a long look at those involved in the editorial decisions and the choices they are making. The irony is of course rather than dealing with this issue and hiding the original post the unelected small group who control the editing passwords and therefore the whole site will hide this comment.



Ian Walters
mail e-mail: ian.elaine@bluesky.com


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

There is nothing wrong with Israel

07.01.2006 13:37

Israel is a tiny country which has never harmed anyone. All it has ever done is to defend itself when ever it has been attacked. How can you support the Palestinian cause when that cause has been promoted by terrorist acts which have killed innocent men, women and children. The Palestinians suffering has been entirely self inflicted due to terrorism on the part of their leaders.

Concerned


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Dinner also planned

07.01.2006 19:30

Immediately after lunch, the faithful will be invited to blow themselves up, in solidarity of course, providing we can find some Je...er, Zionists to slaughter.
It is requested, that survivors of this proactive expression of peace activism, try again (some of the bomb belts are faulty, no doubt made in ISRAEL and fail to detonate)
For first time suicide bombers. Some times it is difficult for a peace activist to push the little red button. But, rest assured, our friendly and helpful solidarity staff will make certain that the detonator is activated, this, via remote control. We have learned from our Palestinian brothers, that most often, their children cannot be trusted to express themselves properly. It's generally believed that it is due to their young age, and not because they have second thoughts about slaughtering women and children. So each and every bomb belt is equipped with Palestinian Designed remote detonation gear.
In a related story:
Intel expands Israeli operations. Most computer and cellphone manufacturers are using Israeli technoilogy in their software and hardware. So we URGE YOU to toss youir cellphone and computers, because otherwise you will be supporting and enabling APARTHEID ISRAEL.
Intifada Out.

Ali ibn Sharmootah


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