






ACTIVISTS gathered outside Kensington Olympia today as delegates arrived for the first day of the far-right Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference.
Organised by Fossil Free London and joined by more than 10 campaign groups, including Greenpeace and Queers for Palestine, protesters dressed in frog costumes and carried signs reading “Fossil Fuels Fund Fascism” and “Oily Fascists Out of London.”
The conference is primarily backed by hedge fund manager Paul Marshall, whose portfolio includes more than £1.8 billion in fossil fuel companies.
More than 4,000 people from 96 countries were expected to attend, with speakers including Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and James Orr, anti-trans and anti-abortion campaigners, as well as about 40 MPs.
The protest came as rare red weather warnings for extreme heat were issued across Britain.
Fossil Free London director Robin Wells said: “Their oily money is fuelling the extreme heat we’re sweating through, and we’re left poorer than ever whilst they profiteer from war and crisis.
“But we refuse to tolerate their hate, and we are building our alternative: strong, connected and resilient communities, a more equal society, and climate action to protect us all.”
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/protests-challenge-attendees-entering-global-far-right-fossil-fuel-conference-london With thanks to the Morning Star



https://www.declassifieduk.org/we-wanted-to-save-lives-palestine-activists-tell-court/

A jury at Birmingham crown court is deliberating whether four pro-Palestine activists committed criminal damage at an arms factory in Wolverhampton.
Defendants Iain Evans, Hisham Alkhamesi, Frank Sherman, and Hana Yun-Stevens believed the factory, used by arms firm Moog, supplied weaponry to Israel.
They climbed onto the roof in August 2025, smashed equipment and unveiled a banner saying “Free Palestine” while wearing T-shirts with the names of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes.
…
Jurors were unable to reach a verdict this week and have been discharged until Tuesday.
…
Sherman, 23, told the jury they would always believe disrupting the factory was “not criminal” and that any repercussions they may face could not “compare to how I would feel if I had not taken action”.
Lawyers for the other defendants reminded the jury of its powers – referencing the Magna Carta and the Bushell case, a landmark ruling from 1670 which established the independence of juries.
They also mentioned how the suffragettes “did a bit of smashing themselves”.
…
See the original article at https://www.declassifieduk.org/we-wanted-to-save-lives-palestine-activists-tell-court/


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Israel has become the country most exposed to boycotts worldwide, facing a sweeping wave of international sanctions targeting government officials, occupiers and official institutions, the daily Yedioth Ahronoth said Thursday.
Under the headline “How Israel became the most boycotted nation in the world,” the newspaper said Israel has faced “a tsunami of international sanctions targeting Israeli government officials, occupiers and institutions, escalating pressure from multiple countries and long-standing pro-BDS organizations.”
It said France recently barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, after previously imposing a similar ban on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
According to the newspaper, the French move came in response to the two ministers’ “active promotion of West Bank annexation, new settlements and policies perceived as undermining the Palestinian Authority.”
The United Nations considers the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, occupied Palestinian territory, and its annexation to Israel would effectively eliminate the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state envisioned in international resolutions.
READ: France bans Israeli Cabinet Minister Ben-Gvir over treatment of Gaza flotilla activists
Growing momentum
Yedioth Ahronoth said until Oct. 7, 2023, Israel had managed to limit the impact of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigns.
“Economic sanctions had little effect because Israel’s strong economy discouraged divestment, while academic and cultural boycotts were largely symbolic,” it added.
However, the phenomenon has intensified, with BDS achieving successes in multiple fields,” the daily said.
“The movement has damaged Israel’s reputation internationally, evident in public opinion surveys showing growing negative perceptions.”
The report cited several examples, including artists refusing to perform in Israel, authors refusing Hebrew translations of their work and campaigns removing Israel from events like Eurovision or FIFA competitions.
It also pointed to growing efforts to withdraw foreign investments, “including the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund divesting from Israeli companies.”
“The UN Human Rights Council blacklist targets Israeli and international companies operating beyond the Green Line,” the paper said, referring to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
“Reports and videos from the West Bank showing occupiers engaging in violent behavior against Palestinians and property damage have further fueled the sanctions,” the report said.
“Public statements and actions by ministers, especially Ben-Gvir’s widely circulated video humiliating flotilla participants bound for Gaza, drew condemnation from multiple countries as crossing a red line.”
READ: Most people in 36 countries hold unfavorable views of Israel: Poll
Western sanctions
Referring to France’s decision to bar Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, the newspaper said Paris had joined Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in restricting entry for Israeli ministers.
“France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway—have coordinated sanctions against occupiers and organizations promoting violence in the West Bank,” it said.
France has also restricted the entry of four illegal settlement leaders and 21 occupiers, according to the report.
The UK launched “a plan of action” targeting networks that finance and support occupiers’ attacks, “urging businesses to avoid operations in West Bank settlements.”
“Canada imposed entry bans and financial restrictions on two citizens and five organizations, while Australia sanctioned three citizens and six outposts,” the newspaper said.
New Zealand also barred three Israelis, adding them to a blacklist of 35 individuals that includes Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and illegal settlement figures such as Daniela Weiss, Ze’ev Haber, Elisha Yered, Noam Federman, Baruch Marzel and Bentzi Gopstein.
“In addition to sanctions, France has opened investigations into alleged torture and war crimes linked to the flotilla incident and Italy announced an inquiry into Ben-Gvir for humiliating Italian civilians,” the report added.
“EU discussions are ongoing regarding personal sanctions against Israeli ministers,” the paper said.
“Germany reportedly opposes measures against Smotrich but may support restrictions on Ben-Gvir, though a Czech veto could prevent action,” it added.
Analysts cited by the newspaper said broad economic sanctions against Israel “are unlikely in the short term, but personal sanctions against ministers are expected to remain under consideration.”
They argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has failed to effectively respond to these developments, mobilize friendly countries or engage with global Jewish communities in confronting the boycott movement.
Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza, where nearly 73,000 people have been killed and over 173,000 others in a genocidal war since October 2023.
Israel is also facing a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) brought by South Africa and supported by several countries, accusing it of committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave.
READ: US Senate moves to protect Israel’s access to American secrets
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The United Kingdom, Australia and Canada announced Thursday the creation of a new International Peace Fund aimed at supporting efforts toward a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel, Anadolu Agency reports.
In a joint statement, the three countries said the multi-donor fund will support projects designed to advance the conditions for a negotiated two-state solution.
The governments said the initiative will complement ongoing diplomatic, humanitarian and development efforts by supporting organizations working to promote peacebuilding and mutual understanding.
The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, describing it as the only viable path to lasting peace.
The UK, Australia and Canada will each contribute initial seed funding equivalent to £1 million ($1.3 million) over three years. The fund will also be open to contributions from other international partners.
READ: ‘A stain on our city’: UK urged to ban Israeli property fair selling stolen Palestinian land
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