Yesterday, William Hague spoke in the house on the Gaze Flotilla.
Frank Dobson in the House of Commons yesterday:
Will the Foreign Secretary not accept that what he said today really amounts to saying that the United States, Britain and Europe will continue to tolerate the Israeli blockade of Gaza? Does he not agree that this toleration should be brought to an end, and, if necessary, Britain and the other European members of NATO should say that if another flotilla sets off for Gaza, we are willing to give it naval protection, with the Royal Navy reverting to its traditional role of protecting the freedom of the seas?
Ann Clwyd in the House:
I think that we have pussy-footed around Israel for long enough. The only language that it understands is not the language of diplomacy but the language of the hobnail boot, by which I mean sanctions, telling it to stop building any more settlements, and insisting that it has talks with people-both sides-who represent the Palestinian people, as Sir Menzies Campbell said. I hope that theForeign Secretary will develop a much more robust foreign policy towards Israel.
A ship left Ireland yesterday, destined for Gaza. We’ll find out soon enough if Israel is going to continue to play silly buggers on this front.
All I can say is that it dismays me that Gaza has been effectively closed for 18 months now. Israel says it is letting in aid, but I tend to believe the impartial organisations such as the UN when they tell me that only 25% of the required aid is getting to Gaza. Israel won’t let reconstruction materials into the area. People are homeless, jobless and have no incomes. Is Israel really that surprised that it has created a rod for it’s own back by forcing people to the black market?
The continued invasion, occupation of land, and blockade of Gaza has ensured that the people living there have had a poor quality of life, whilst those in Israel complain about the makeshift rocket attacks. Is it any surprise that the International Community is getting quite so pissed off?
How is the occupation illegal?
There has been a long-running campaign to boycott products made on the land Israel has stolen from the Palestinians. Supermarkets such as Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s import products from this “West Bank”.
These ‘West Bank Settlements’ are actually illegal:
“The Occupying Powershall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
The Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protectionof Civilian Persons in Time of War, Article 49
What is the effect on the Palestinian population?
- Israel controls over 40% of the West Bank. In the Jordan Valley, that figure rises to 95%
- Home demolition is a frequent occurence – Israel is focussing especially on East Jerusalem – in order to ensure that Jerusalem cannot become a Palestinian capital.
- Violence – in January 2010 the United Nations warned that over 250,000 Palestinians living in or around the occupied territory are vulnerable to violent attacks.
- In the Tomer Settlement, children aged 14 and 15 have been working for several years. The children are paid below minimum wage, are exposed to unsafe working practices and miss school in order to work. There are videosof child labourers at Tomer settlement.
- In Mehola Settlement, in 2008 young boys between 13 and14 year old were witnessed working here and are paid 20shekels a day (134 shekels below the minimum wage).
- Yifat Settlement: Hilo Glazer’s report for Kav LaOved states that children working in Yifat receive 50 shekels for 7–8hours’ work and do not receive any pay slips.
How can I help? Peacefully, of course.
The Israeli occupation in itself is illegal, and dates to the 1970′s. US President Jimmy Carter was even asking questions when 13 colonies housed 9,000 Israelis in 1978.
That means that the British Government should really be making it illegal to import goods from the occupied West Bank. As humans we have a duty to each other that we don’t support people carrying out war crimes.
Over 50% of Israel’s agricultural produce is imported to the European Union. A large percentage of that is purchased by Asda, Tesco, Waitrose, John Lewis, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. The Soil Association certificates the occupied farms.
Next time you’re shopping CHECK THE LABEL. If it says the origin is “West Bank”, then it’s from the stolen land. It is, effectively, stolen produce. Ask your conscience if it feels comfortable buying.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign aren’t suggesting you boycott Israel completely – just the produce that comes from the West Bank. That may not be as easy as it sounds – several Israeli companies mix produce from the West Bank and Israel, and label their products as Israeli.
Which companies are involved?
Key Israeli companies which export settlement products to the UK are:
- Agricultural Export Companies: Carmel-Agrexco, Hadiklaim, Mehadrin-Tnuport, Arava, Jordan River, Jordan Plains, Flowers Direct.
- Other food products: Abady Bakery, Achdut, Adumim Food Additives/Frutarom, Amnon & Tamar, Oppenheimer, Shamir Salads, Soda Club
- Dead Sea Products: Ahava, Dead Sea Laboratories, Intercosma
Some of these companies may also import products made legitimately in Israel.
Veolia, who clean the streets and provide services in the UK for many Councils, operate bus services in the occupied territory.
Hanson UK is a supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry. It has a subsidiary in Israel which owns factories and quarries in the West Bank. Hanson UK was acquired in September 2007 by German company HeidelbergCement.
Last comments