After the attack of a Pro-Palestinian Picket in Manchester, the following statement has been issued by the Iraq Solidarity Campaign (UK).

On Saturday the 11th July, members of the Iraq Solidarity Campaign (UK) attended the boycott picket of Marks and Spencer’s in Manchester, in protest to the company’s trading policies towards the state of Israel and in protest to an attack on the picket that took place the week before.

3rd July 2004

People from a variety of campaigns also attended the picket because on Saturday the 3rd July, the Boycott Marks and Spencer’s picket was attacked by 7 men, who later revealed to one Jewish Newspaper that they were all ex-members of the Israeli Defence Force.

On the 3rd of July, according to witnesses present, the seven men got out of cars facing the picket line and proceeded to verbally abuse people, tear up campaign literature which explained to members of the public what kind of conditions Israel was placing upon the Palestinians and they even chased one woman who was trying to call the Greater Manchester Police.

11th July 2004

Also present at Marks and Spencer’s on the 11th, was the Likud organiser for Manchester, who was standing out side by the doors of the shop and may have been observing the picket line and making complaints to Marks and Spencer’s security services, because after he was seen speaking to security staff, they were coming out and complaining about the picket line, like the sticking up of bandage material with Anti-Wall slogans written on them.

Whilst on the picket line, the stall was approached by many people who took literature and spoke to members of the campaign. A few Jewish young people, who explained to picketers, that they attended a Jewish High School in Manchester and enquired why Palestine had taken Israel’s land, also approached the stall.

Whilst no trouble occurred at the picket line of the 11th, one Jewish Newspaper, that cannot be named for obvious reasons, stated that a “counter-picket” was being called by a Manchester based Zionist organisation for Saturday the 17th July, outside of Marks and Spencer’s in Manchester’s city centre.

After some discussion, with the Picket organisers and a variety of anti-war, Iraq groups and pro-Palestinian organisations, it was agreed that all peace groups should mobilise in defence of Palestine and Iraq, on Saturday the 17th July 2004 and should assemble out side Marks and Spencer’s, Market Street, Manchester, starting at 12 noon!

If there are enough picketers and supporters, we plan to deter any further attacks on the Marks and Spencer’s picket by showing our support to the Palestinian people and like the picket of the 11th July, People had attended in various capacities. You don’t have to leaflet if you don’t want to but you can come as a legal observer or just as moral support.

Yours sincerely,

The Iraq Solidarity Campaign (UK)