No Israeli flag now flies at Carmel Agrexco
There was no sign of the Israeli flag which used to fly proudly outside the Carmel Agrexco warehouse in Hayes, Middlesex, and the Union Jack on the adjoining flagpole was tattered and skewered on its pole. When I arrived the gates were closed and guarded by around 20 police, with perhaps another 50 or more in reserve in vans parked around the industrial estate. As well as normal police vans, these included a couple of old vans that looked like they had been rescued from the knackers yard and cheaply fitted with a notice saying Metropolitan Police in the front windscreen, so perhaps police resources were rather stretched. Later I saw even more police vans at other points around this industrial estate a couple of miles north of Heathrow.
The demonstration was led around the estate by the samba band
Roughly the same number of demonstrators eventually arrived, looking considerably more cheerful than the police who appeared to be feeling the cold. Once the samba band got there the protesters went off with them for a walk around the block, attempting to visit another company on the estate involved in the export of Israeli and Palestinian flowers. Police formed a solid line across the road and refused to let the marchers past, pushing back those who tried but refusing to say why there were not allowed to continue. Eventually an Inspector introduced himself and read a statement (he afterwards confirmed this was under the Public Order Act 1986) confining the demonstration to the block containing Carmel Agrexco, and after a few arguments the marchers moved on.
Police stop demonstrators but refuse to answer questions
At this point one man was stopped and searched, but no arrests were made. The FIT photographer was hard at work throughout the event, but generally the police were well-behaved and made an effort to engage the protesters and photographers in polite conversation throughout the roughly three hours I was there.
‘Amy’ and friend end their performance of The Boycott Agrexco Song
At several places the march stopped to sing songs, with ‘Amy Whitehouse’ whose wig was surely too tidy to fool anyone and another singer with a strong voice, both of whom had the advantage of knowing the tunes. The Boycott Israel Song (tune Bye Bye Love) reminded us not to buy Israeli goods including dates, Jaffa fruit, Israeli wine – and anything with a bar code starting 729. (Although some Israeli produce has this barcode, there are others, so always read read all the small print.)
A new Boycott Agrexco Song (none of us knew the tune, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, but then few at the demonstration will have attended Sunday School – and we didn’t sing it at mine) was more specific, reminding us of the house demolitions and checkpoints that force Gaza farmers to sell their produce dirt cheap to Israeli companies who illegally export them as Israeli produce, and of the stealing of water from Palestine to irrigate Israeli fruit. It ended on a seasonal note:
“Don’t buy your flowers from Agrexco
To give your valentine
Boycott the fruits of apartheid,
And help free Palestine”
Agrexco is Israel’s largest exporter of agricultural produce and much of it goes to EU countries including the UK. Its main UK depot is in Hayes because this is close to Heathrow – where much of the produce is flown in to this country.
This was described as a Valentine demonstration
Movement of food by air is a considerable an unnecessary drain on the planet’s resources and contributes to global warming. So Carmel Agrexco was naturally a target for demonstrators during the Heathrow Climate cap in August 2007. As in other protests no prosecutions resulted despite there being considerable damage reported.
There were other photographers present – including this one.
From 16 Feb I might be arrested for taking pictures like this.
Protesters claim that Carmel Agrexco is in violation of international law in exporting produce – mainly carnations, strawberries and cherry tomatoes – from Gaza, as well as from Israeli settlements inside the Green Line and in the West Bank.
More pictures on My London Diary.
