The Irish peace activist Ms Caoimhe Butterly has begun a two-week hunger strike outside the Dublin offices of Cement Roadstone Holdings. She is seeking to focus attention on the role she claims the firm is playing in supplying building materials for the construction of the wall Israel is building along the occupied West Bank.
The wall, which is eight metres in height in some places, is being built by the Israelis as a so-called security measure aimed at preventing Palestinian suicide bomb strikes.
Amnesty International has said CRH "is likely to be providing" raw material for its construction through subsidiary companies in the region, Mashav Group and Nesher Cement.
The company last night reiterated earlier statements denying that it or companies which it part owns are in any way involved in the supply of material for the construction of the wall.
However, Mr Butterly said she was unwilling to accept this at face value. "I'm hoping this hunger strike will force the company to prove what they say, although I'd have to say I'm not exactly holding my breath. It's shameful that an Irish company should profit from anything that is as immoral, unjust, and destructive as the construction of this wall. This fast is being initiated as an attempt to pressure CRH to divest from these companies. It is the only moral option."
She added the wall "is responsible for the de facto annexation of over 50 per cent of Palestinian agricultural land". She will spend one week outside CRH headquarters at Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin. The second week would probably be spent outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin, she said.
Ms Butterly (25), from Cork, was shot in the leg by an Israeli soldier during the Israeli army's assault two years ago on the Jenin refugee camp in Palestine.
