The UK authorities shared contact particulars of counter-terrorism police and prosecutors with the Israeli embassy throughout an investigation into protests at an arms manufacturing unit, official paperwork counsel, elevating considerations about overseas interference.
An electronic mail was despatched on 9 September final yr by the Legal professional Common’s Workplace (AGO) to Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, with the subject material “CPS/SO15 [Crown Prosecution Service/counterterrorism police] contact particulars”.
Final August, 10 Palestine Motion activists had been arrested beneath the Terrorism Act after a protest at an Israeli weapons manufacturing unit, and in November an additional eight had been arrested beneath the act in relation to the identical incident. The e-mail despatched by Nicola Smith, the pinnacle of worldwide regulation on the AGO, and obtained via a freedom of knowledge (FoI) request, was despatched 11 days after she had met Grudsky Ekstein. It was redacted aside from the subject material.
Lydia Dagostino, from Kellys Solicitors, who represents some Palestine Motion activists, mentioned: “The knowledge disclosed in response to an FoI request clearly raises questions and desires additional investigation.
“Why, for instance, did the Legal professional Common’s Workplace present the contact particulars for the Crown Prosecution Service, an unbiased physique, to the Israelis? What additional exchanges adopted and was there discussions about ongoing prison prosecutions?”
Dr Shahd Hammouri, a tutorial and worldwide lawyer, additionally raised considerations about proof “which signifies overseas affect”.
A readout of what was mentioned on the 28 August assembly between Smith and Grudsky Ekstein was closely redacted. Nonetheless, previous disclosures have proven obvious requests by the Israeli embassy to the AGO to intervene in particular person circumstances – unspecified resulting from redactions – and conferences held between the Israeli defence contractor’s representatives and the AGO and House Workplace ministers.
In 2023, the Guardian revealed that in response to a redacted request from the Israeli embassy, the director basic of the AGO, Douglas Wilson, replied: “As we famous … the CPS makes its prosecution choices and manages its casework independently. The regulation officers are unable to intervene on a person case or touch upon points associated to energetic proceedings.”
Wilson was additionally current on the assembly in August final yr with Smith and Grudsky Ekstein.
A 2023 briefing word for a gathering between Chris Philp, then a House Workplace minister, and the Israeli embassy mentioned the CPS declined to attend the assembly “to protect their operational independence”.
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Motion, mentioned: “The timing of this correspondence coincides with the continuing investigation into Palestine Motion activists accused of dismantling the […] web site of Israel’s greatest arms producer.
“It appears obvious that the Legal professional Common’s Workplace has facilitated overseas interference on this case and doubtlessly different ongoing prison circumstances.”
In November final yr, 4 UN particular rapporteurs wrote to the UK authorities expressing concern concerning the “apparently unjustified use” of terrorism laws towards protesters. Individuals arrested beneath the Terrorism Act 2000 can he held for as much as 14 days with out cost.
The letter from the human rights consultants mentioned these arrested in August had been initially held for 36 hours, with out entry to authorized illustration, earlier than being detained for an additional seven days beneath powers contained in counter-terrorism laws.
The letter mentioned: “Counterterrorism laws, together with the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2006, seems to have been more and more used within the context of home help for Palestinian self-determination and political activism towards the UK’s overseas coverage on the battle within the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza.
“Specifically, members of Palestine Motion – a grassroots motion that organises direct actions towards Israeli weapons factories in the UK – have reportedly been arrested beneath counter-terrorism laws for conduct that seems to be within the nature of strange prison offences and doesn’t look like genuinely ‘terrorist’ in keeping with worldwide requirements.”
Nobody was charged with offences beneath the Terrorism Act in relation to the protest. The ten folks charged with non-terrorism offences have had their authorized help, household visits, healthcare and non secular rights restricted whereas in jail awaiting trial, in keeping with the particular rapporteurs’ letter.
A authorities supply mentioned: “It has been routine beneath successive governments for AGO to assist embassies get in touch with the related authorities purely for functions of sharing data that may very well be related to a case.
“Selections to prosecute, convict and sentence are, rightly, made independently of presidency by the Crown Prosecution Service, juries and judges respectively.”
The Israeli embassy didn’t reply to a request for remark. Referring to a separate case, an Israeli embassy spokesperson beforehand mentioned it revered the independence of the British judicial system and “certainly not would intrude in UK authorized proceedings”.
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