Official documents suggest that the British government raised concerns about foreign intervention in its contact details of counter-terrorism police and prosecutors in the Israeli embassy and in an investigation into protests at a weapons factory.

On September 9 last year, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) sent an email to Israeli Deputy Ambassador Daniela Grudsky Ekstein with the subject "CPS/SO15 (Royal Prosecution Service/Counter-Terrorism Police)) Contact".

Ten Palestinian activists arrested under the Terrorism Act were arrested last August after protests at Israel’s weapons factories and in November eight more were arrested in the bill. The email sent by AGO Director of International Law Nicola Smith was obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and was sent 11 days after she met Grudsky Ekstein. Besides the subject, it was edited.

Lydia Dagostino of Kelis Law Firm, which represents some Palestinian action activists, said: “The information in response to FOI requests clearly raises the questions and requires further investigation.

"For example, why did the Attorney General's Office provide Israel with contact information on the Crown Prosecutor's Office, an independent agency? What further communication was followed, and discussions about ongoing criminal prosecutions?"

Academic and international lawyer Dr. Shahd Hammouri also raised concerns about evidence that “shows foreign influence.”

Readings of what Smith and Grudsky Ekstein discussed at the August 28 meeting have been severely edited. However, past disclosures have shown that the Israeli embassy has clearly requested the AGO to intervene in individual cases (not specified due to amendments), as well as meetings between representatives of Israel’s defense contractors and ministers of the AGO’s internal office.

In 2023, the Guardian revealed that in response to editorial requests from the Israeli Embassy, ​​former principal Douglas Wilson replied: "As we pointed out... the CPS made a prosecution decision and independently managed its cases. Legal officials were unable to intervene in issues related to individual cases or activities to intervene in or in positive issues."

Wilson also attended the meeting last August with Smith and Grudsky Ekstein.

A 2023 briefing, which was held in 2023 between then-Interior Minister Chris Philp and the Israeli Embassy, ​​said CPS refused to attend the meeting “to maintain its operational independence.”

"The timing of such letters coincides with the ongoing investigation of Palestinian Operations activists accused of demolishing the (…) location of Israel's largest arms producer.

“It is obvious that the Attorney General’s Office has promoted foreign intervention in this case and may be other ongoing criminal cases.”

In November last year, four UN Special Rapporteurs wrote to the British government, expressing concern about the "clearly unreasonable use" of terrorist legislation against protesters. A person arrested under the Terrorism Act of 2000 can remain innocent for up to 14 days.

A letter from human rights experts said that the person arrested in August initially held for 36 hours without legal representation and was then detained for seven days under the powers contained in counter-terrorism legislation.

The letter said: “Counter-terrorism legislation, including the Terrorism Act of 2000 and the Terrorism Act of 2006, appears to have used the political policy of the UK’s foreign policy on conflicts in the British occupied Palestinian territories in the context of domestic support for Palestinian self-determination and political activism.

“In particular, members of Operation Palestinian are grassroots movements that conduct direct actions on Israeli weapons factories in the UK – reportedly arrested in the case of counter-terrorism acts, which appear to be of the nature of a common criminal offense and do not appear to be a “terrorist” by international standards.”

Under the Terrorism Act, no one has been charged with a crime for protests. According to the Special Rapporteur's letter, the 10 people were charged with non-terrorist crimes and received legal support while awaiting trial in prisons, limited restrictions on family access, health care and religious rights.

A government source said: “It is purely for sharing information that may be related to the case, and purely for helping the embassy stay in touch with the relevant authorities.

“It is rightly decided by the Crown Prosecution, jury and judges independently of the government to make prosecution, conviction and sentence.”

The Israeli embassy did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the Israeli embassy is linked to a separate case, and has previously stated that it respects the independence of the British judicial system and “will not interfere with legal proceedings in the UK under no circumstances”.