URGENT PRESS RELEASE - 26 NOV 2006
Israeli Company in Hayes blockaded.

Israeli Company in Hayes Blockaded For THIRD Time to Gain Ruling on Carmel’s Trading With
Illegal Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Territory.

Photos Available
phone 07845039980/07815130937;
email:  thewallmustfall@riseup.net for interviews/updates

Early This morning (Sun), Palestine solidarity activists blockaded the Israeli
Company Carmel Agrexco’s UK headquarters. This was part of a non-violent protest against recurrent breaches of human rights and international law in the occupied territories of Palestine.

Carmel is complicit in war crimes under the International Criminal Court Act 2001
(ICC Act). They import fresh produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in
the Occupied Territories.

The purpose of the protest is to highlight Agrexco's illegal activity in court.

The action follows a legal warning letter to Carmel stating clearly why they are in
breach of the law.

The action took place at Agrexco UK, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex, Israel’s largest importer of agricultural produce into the European Union. It is 50% Israeli State owned.

Protesters used wire fencing and bicycle D-Locks in a well-planned blockade at the two entrances to the building. At 5:30am several protestors locked themselves on to the Company's gates and internal barriers blocking access to the property. At 6:30am the police arrived but were prevented from accessing the property by the human blockade. Several company trucks have also been stopped.

Before taking part in the blockade, many of the protesters had witnessed first hand the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli military occupation.

This follows from actions of 11th November 2004, when Palestine-Solidarity
protesters from London and Brighton were arrested after taking part in non-violent blockades outside the same company and 30 August 2006, When demonstrators blockaded the company for 11 hours and no arrests were made.

September 2005, a Judge ruled that Agrexco (UK) must prove that their business is
lawful. The acquittal of the seven activists before they were able to present their
defence meant that the court did not have to rule on the legality of
Agrexco-Carmel’s involvement in the supply of produce from illegal settlements in
the occupied territories.

In September 2006 protesters blockaded the company again, Carmel refused to have demonstrators arrested becuse this would have lead to another embarrassing court appearance where their business methods would havebeen investigated by a British court of law.

Today’s blockade aims to expose this company’s complicity in murder, theft and
damage of occupied land, collective punishment, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and
other breaches of International Law to public and legal scrutiny.

phone 07845039980/07815130937, email  thewallmustfall@riseup.net

Links:

Photos of the last blockade
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/349440.html

Text of letter sent to Carmel Agrexco

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2006/08/347361.html

Report on Carmel’s Involvemnt in the Jordan Valley:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/09/322537.html

Press release from previous trial (with links):

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331851.html

War on Want’s Report –“Profiting from the Occupation”:

 http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=12671