We believe that our action was lawful and justified.

Today’s judgement illustrates the complicity of the authorities in allowing companies to profit from the occupation. Throughout the trial neither the Judge nor the prosecution challenged the assertion that the settlements are illegal in international law.

Irrespective of today’s judgement campaigners believe that they are still the victors. As a result of the collective efforts of activists, Ahava’s flagship Covent Garden store will close this September. This demonstrates the efficacy of grassroots action in creating real and tangible change. We call for mass participation in the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, building a movement that can directly challenge Israeli apartheid and occupation.

Press contact: thewallmustfall@gmail.com

Background:

Ahava Blockaders Finally on Their Way to Court

Ahava: The Occupier Becomes the Occupied

Fifth Blockade of Ahava Shuts the Shop for Business

Ahava is an Israeli company based in settlements in the occupied West Bank . NO to goods from West Bank colonies!

See the London BDS blog for more details:

AHAVA IS ON THE RUN!

JCrap.com (the Jewish Chronicle) today posted the news on their website that the campaign against Ahava has scored a direct hit. The landlord, Shaftesbury PLC will not renew Ahava’s lease after over a year of regular fortnightly demonstrations and direct actions. The shop’s neighbours are also keen to see Ahava leave and most have voiced support for the BDS campaign against the company

Continue reading…

There will be protests outside Ahava early weekday evenings in the run up to Christmas in addition to the regular fortnightly protests on Saturdays.

Details of the weekday evening protests will be posted on this site.

Next Ahava demo: 12 noon, Saturday, 27 November.

In celebration of the recent court victory in which four campaigners were acquitted for blockading the Covent Garden Ahava shop in 2009, approximately 60 protesters gathered outside its doors in Monmouth Street, central London, to celebrate and continue promoting boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Israeli occupation. While demonstrators were met by the usual Zionist counter-demonstrators, on this occasion they arrived flanked by the openly racist English Defence League.

Ahava, the cosmetics retailer and spa outlet, manufactures its products on the illegal Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Shalem. It has openly flouted tax requirements by exploiting the EU-Israel trade agreement and violates UK DEFRA guidelines in respect of proper labeling. The campaign against Ahava supports the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as a global nonviolent means to challenge the Israeli Occupation of Palestine and the ongoing siege upon Gaza.

At the outset the small group of around ten EDL members remained close to the Zionist contingent of Ahava supporters, handing out leaflets. Over the course of the demonstration they began to take an increasingly prominent role, culminating with the unfurling of a flag of St. George and chanting “E-E-EDL.” This was accompanied by racist remarks towards a number of Ahava protesters who were of Asian/Middle Eastern descent. What was more surprising, and unsettling, was the apparent unwillingness of the Zionist contingent to distance themselves from the EDL.

Vice chair of the Zionist Federation of Britain Jonathon Hoffman was present and took no action to put some distance between the two groups. This comes only days after a recent report in the Israeli paper Haaretz claiming that the Board of Deputies of British Jews were not affiliated with the EDL and did not want anything to do with them. The stark contrast between the formal statement and the reality in front of the Ahava shop, in which senior members of the ZF stood along side EDL members, undercuts any public statements and underlines the racism inherent in the Zionists’ agenda.

The EDL’s history of far right opinions and racist chanting and abuse — as well as their violence and hatred towards Muslim communities — have earned them a variety of unflattering labels, including ‘fascist’. Jewish groups have long since been targeted by right-wing, racist and fascist groups, so to see the Zionists and the EDL united against Palestinians illustrates that as far as the Zionist Federation is concerned, the enemy of one’s enemy may become an ally no matter what they stand for. That they were welcomed by the Zionists may be shocking to some, but might also be reflective of their desperation for support in the UK.

This is not the first instance of the two groups coming together in support of each other. In the immediate aftermath of the brutal attack on the Mavi Marmarra flotilla by Israeli commandos in which nine human rights activists were murdered, the EDL joined up with Zionists outside the Israeli embassy in Knightsbridge to show support for the Israeli state’s violent actions.  In addition, the EDL marched to Downing Street two weeks ago with Israeli flags being held alongside British and St. George flags.

Despite their presence and the racist slurs they shouted at members of the Ahava demonstration, the protest took place without violence.  The verbal abuse hurled by EDL members and their Zionist partners was met with a series of police cautions. Numerous members of the public stopped to chat with Palestinian solidarity activists and showed support. A small brass band played music to entertain the masses and build a celebratory spirit as many people chanted for justice and for an end to the sale of Israeli and Settlement produce.

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17th August 2010

Additions:

Since the publication of the original report, a few points have been raised which are felt important to incorporate.

1) In noting that the event passed without violence, it is important to recognise there was no explicit physical violence. Racism is a form of verbal violence and must be acknowleged as such. Similarly, although no physical violence took place, the EDL did threaten physical violence to at least two members of the Ahava protest.

2) Regarding police cautions: There were a total of five referals for prosecution to the Crown Prosecution Service for racially aggravated offences.

3) Where the Board of Jewish Deputies have sought to distance themselves from the EDL, this must not be confused with the lack of efforts by the Zionist Federation at the demonstration itself to do the same. The  two are distinct organisations and must be considered and treated as such.

On the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th of August 2010, four protestors will appear in court facing the charge of aggravated trespass for having twice blockaded the Israeli-owned cosmetics shop, Ahava. Intending to prevent the sale of illegal settlement goods, the trial forms part of an ongoing boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against the cosmetics shop and other consumer goods retailers which trade in products manufactured or grown on Israeli Settlements which have been recognised as illegal under international law by both the United Nations and the British government.

The London based campaign against Ahava compliments a larger international campaign against the company which mis-labels it’s products “Dead Sea: Israel”. Protests against Ahava have taken place in the US, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and France, with the French collective CAPJPO (Coordination pour une Paix Juste au Proche Orient) bringing the case against Ahava to French courts.

Irregular protests had taken place outside the shop over the course of 2009, including the first ever blockade in the midst of Operation Cast. In September 2009 two protestors went into the shop and locked onto a concrete block to prevent them being moved, in December 2009 the action was repeated.  However it was in 2010 that the campaign really gathered momentum and has seen protests take place outside the Covent Garden shop on a fortnightly basis. In addition, the actions have been supplimented by formal complaints to Camden Trading Standards calling for investigations, formal complaints to police, parliamentary questions and lobbying of MPs.

The campaign incorporates a wide number of organisations inclusive of ISM-London, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods, Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Kings College Palestine Solidarity, and many others. What the blockaders set out to accomplish was what the government, Camden Trading Standards and the police have so far refused to do; stop the trade in illegal settlement goods. They are now due in court to prove their actions were justified.

In response to the forthcoming court case a large demonstration has been called for the 14^th August from 12 noon till 2pm. Bringing together concerned people to send a clear message regarding the ongoing trade in settlement produce and Israeli produce in general. More information on the trial and what comes from it will be posted in the forthcoming week so do look out for notifications.

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Ahava’s products are manufactured on the Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Shalem and where the factory is a cooperative integral to the settlement, consequently profits go towards making the illegal settlement financially viable. Where the Fourth Geneva Conventions state that it is illegal for an occupying power to transfer civilian population into an occupied territory, and that an occupying power must not appropriate natural resources from an occupied territory, Ahava’s business practices thus serve to violate international law. Additional information on Ahava can be found here.

Furthermore, Ahava’s business practices are due to come before the Russell Tribunal on Palestine which will next convene in London in November 2010. The peoples tribunal will place the company’s actions within the context of international law and consider its complicity in possible war crimes

The BDS initiative [7] was born in 2005 through a call by Palestinian civil society groups and organisations seeking a global non-violent means to challenge the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. It has been taken up by numerous groups and organisations internationally and has become a unifying global movement for those seeking justice for Palestine.

Ahava, 39 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London , WC2H 9DD

31^st July 2010: On a humid Saturday afternoon, about twenty campaigners demonstrated once more outside Ahava – retailers of illegal Israeli Settlement good, to express their outrage, raise awareness about the oppression of the Palestinian people and to bring the BDS movement to the streets of London.

Coming from a multitude Palestine solidarity groups, demonstrators carried placards. Leafleted and spoke with shoppers, tourists and passers by, many of whom were receptive, sympathetic and wanted to know more. The J-BIG (Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods) banner was displayed, as were two large Palestinian flags and the colourful Boycott Ahava banner.

Just as in the past, only a few Zionist counter-demonstrators turned up, (including a dog), led by their pied piper, Jonathan Hoffman, Co-Vice Chair of the Zionist Federation. Several times throughout the demonstration, Zionists would enter the shop and re-emerge waving an empty Ahava bag in a bid to provoke demonstrators. These poor attempts were met with indifference as protesters carried on chatting with the members of the public.

Police in overzealous form initially attempted to claim that a poster with a picture of a small forlorn looking Palestinian child holding a barbed wire could offend passers by. Despite threatening arrest, demonstrators successfully argued their case and were able to continue to display the picture which serves only to set out the emotional distress many Palestinian children endure.

During the course of the afternoon, a collection was taken up and £65 was donated for a fund to help free Ahmad Burnat, of Bil’in, a 17 year old Palestinian activist who is being held in Israel’s Ofer military prison until a £1,600 is paid as bail. Bil’in is the site of a weekly non-violent protest against the apartheid wall that has cut through the village taking away precious farmland. Israeli forces in response have deployed tear gas, percussion grenades, rubber coated steel bullets and brute force against protesters and has resulted in a number of injuries and in certain instances death. The Israeli forces have arbitrarily arrested over 90 local Bil’in activists many of whom are languishing in administrative detention, and many of whom are under 18.

The demonstration was the final one prior to a court case between activists and Ahava due to take place on the 9th, 10th and 11th of August. In September 2009, activists blockaded the shop to prevent it from trading with the public, in December 2009 the action was repeated. Where activists set out to do what the government, Camden Trading Standards and the police have so far refused to do, stop the trade in illegal settlement goods, they are now due in court to prove their actions were justified.

The next demonstration is set to take place on Saturday the 14th August and is due to be significantly larger as a response to the forthcoming court case. New faces are always welcome and any and all support is appreciated.

For more background on the Ahava blockades, please see earlier posts on Ahava from September and December 2009.

On Saturday the 17^th July, activists gathered outside Ahava for the ongoing campaign against a company profiting from Israels occupation of Palestine.

The fortnightly demonstration saw once again a contingent of approximately 30 protestors gather to inform the public and get the message across about Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions as a means to bring an end to the occupation, as well as highlight the economic links by companies such as Ahava with illegal Israeli Settlements which thieve precious Palestinian land and natural resources.

As per usual, the protest was accompanied by a group of Zionists peddling lies about the history of the conflict and distorting the reality of the Israeli state’s occupation, human rights abuses against the Palestinians and violations of international law. Despite their presence and intimidatory tactics, the protestors continued unperturbed. When the ever-present Richard Millet, a well known Zionist who frequently attends these demonstrations, continued his efforts to harass a lone individual who was giving out leaflets, it came as a relief when police decided to intervene and give him a formal warning for harassment. Where Zionists have made every effort to intimidate participants at the Ahava and other BDS mobilisations, it is hoped the police caution will keep their aggressive tactics at bay.

Protestors however focussed on the task at hand of increasing awareness over the issue of Ahava and the brutal Israeli occupation, and spoke with numerous members of the public about it. The wealth of support from passers by was duly appreciated and always acts as a boost to those who attend each fortnight.

The regular protest continues to see new faces attend each time and the BDS movement steadily grow and gain strength.

Ahava’s products are manufactured on the illegal Settlement of Mitzpe Shalem which sits upon stolen Palestinian land. The settlement is considered illegal under both British and International Law and takes precious natural resources away from Palestinians reducing their capacity to create their own viable economy. The Palestinian call for BDS aims to reduce the international community’s financial, cultural, sporting and academic engagement with the state of Israel as a non-violent means of challenging the apartheid system which sees restrictions on movement, economic restrictions, house demolitions, land theft, indefinite detention without trial and brutal violence against Palestinians and human rights activists in both the West Bank and Gaza.

The next demonstration will be on Saturday the 31^st July from 12pm – 2pm.

Ahava, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London

For updates, reminders and news on protests and events, please sign up to the ISM-London email list or Twitter feed.

THE LAW:

A WORKSHOP ON DIRECT ACTION, PUBLIC LAW, COMPLAINTS AND OTHER LEGAL REMEDIES

Wednesday 16 June 2010

6.30pm – 8pm

The BDS movement and the campaign against settlement produce are gaining momentum. Direct actions against Ahava and Carmel Agrexco are now regular occurrences; supermarkets that sell settlement produce are being subjected to sit-ins and consumer appropriations. Co-op supermarket in Italy recently announced a complete halt on the sale of settlement produce and the publication of DEFRA guidance in December 2009 was a small victory in the UK for those campaigning against the sale of produce that originate in the territories.

This workshop is an opportunity for activists, NGO workers, academics, students or anyone interested or engaged in these campaigns to discuss the legal questions provoked by the trade in settlement goods. Is it legal to sell settlement goods in the UK? To what extent does the sale of settlement goods breach consumer and customs law? Does a breach of the EU-Israel Agreement have any sanction? What complaints procedures are available to consumers and can public bodies be challenged if they refuse to take action?

Simon Natas is a criminal practitioner who has represented many of the activists charges with public order offences after undertaking direct action against companies that sell settlement produce. Sarah McSherry is a civil practitioner who specialises in actions against the state and has advised on public law challenges in the context of the sale of settlement produce.

 This is a unique chance for activists to discuss the most pertinent legal issues with the practitioners currently working on these cases. The meeting will be an interactive workshop to give activists a forum to develop their understanding and to consult on any issues that need clarification.

Simon Natas, Irvine Thanvi Natas

Sarah McSherry, Christian Khan

Location:

War on Want, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4LT

Rsvp: sophienaftalin@hotmail.com Website: www.lphr.org.uk

Pro-Palestine demonstrators once again took to the streets outside Ahava in Covent Garden this afternoon for the sixth in a series of fortnightly demonstrations against the company, which harvests and sells dead sea beauty products from the illegal Israeli West Bank Settlement of Mitzpe Shalem.

Arriving at 12pm, the thirty strong demonstration was again met by a small Zionist Federation counter protest. Each side distributed leaflets and engaged with members of the public until 2pm, when the demonstration ended. This was the first demonstration to be held on a Sunday and in future the demonstrations will go back to being held every other Saturday; the next protest will be on June 5th from 12pm – 2pm.