A PROTEST against mechanical manufacturing company Caterpillar took place outside Solihull Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, July 14.
Around a dozen people raised a banner and handed out leaflets complaining about Caterpillar supplying Israel with specially designed earth moving equipment against UN advice.
It was timed to coincide with the appearance in court of two men arrested by police during a protest outside the company's financial services branch on the Stratford Road near Hockley Heath on June 25.
Protesting group, Caterkillar, say Caterpillar know Israel will use equipment to flatten Palestinian homes and point to a letter from the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights - Jean Zielger - sent to Caterpillar.
It states: "There is a concern that allowing the delivery of your D-9 and D-10 bull-dozers...might involve complicity or acceptance on the part of your company to actual and potential violation of human rights."
One demonstrator, Josie Sandercock, said: If manufacturers like Caterpillar stopped supplying then Israel couldn't continue their present tactics."
Simon Griffiths of Beaconsfield Road, Balsall Heath and Alex McDonagh of Eileen Road, Sparkhill, along
with six others from Brighton, are charged with failing to give police their names and addresses while behaving in an anti-social manner.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Griffiths, said: "We were trying to enter into peaceful dialogue with Caterpillar staff about what their company is doing.
The hearing, which lasted just a few minutes, was adjourned for a pre-trial review on August 23 at 2pm.
A spokeswoman for Caterpillar said: "We share the world's concern over unrest in the Middle East and we certainly have compassion for all those affected.
"However, we have neither the legal right nor the means to police individual use of our equipment.
"We believe any comments on political conflict in the region are best left to govern-mental leaders who have the ability to impact action and advance the peace process."
