Activists have urged water customers to boycott their meters because they’re manufactured by an Israeli company ‘profiteering’ in the West Bank.

Palestinian human rights activists, supported by a local politician, believe Southern Water’s Israeli-manufactured meters should be boycotted in objection to “repression of Palestine.”

The meters are made by Arad Technologies, a company accused of working in “illegal Israeli settlements” in the West Bank after installing 3,200 water meters in settlement industrial zones.

The firm secured a £36 million contract with Southern Water in February 2010 to provide meters, meter reading services and data hosting services.

Southern Water customers are now demanding the Worthing- based company offers alternative meters not manufactured by Arad.

Edmond O’Reilly, from Brighton, said his objection to the installation of Arad’s water meters was based on the “fact” the “Israeli Government has illegally, according to the International Court of Justice and United Nations resolution, settled in Palestinian land.”

He said: “Since 2000 the Israelis have systematically destroyed the Palestinian water supply infrastructure.

“Arad supplies the Israeli government and so these illegal settlements. Should we turn a blind eye, we collude in supporting a system that is systematically discriminating against people who are powerless against a state that seems to be attempting to drive Palestinians out of Palestine.”

'Profiteering'

Ann Hallam, 69, from Brighton, called Southern Water yesterday to ask for her meter to be removed.

She said: “They said they would look into it and get back to me. The issue is they have contracted a company that is complicit in profiteering from illegal Israeli activity.”

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East, echoed the concerns on his website.

He wrote to Southern Water’s chief executive last month to condemn the company’s partnership with Arad.

A spokeswoman from Southern Water said: “We have opted for a technologically advanced meter which is the first of its type in the world. Moreover, its introduction means that the south east is now the only region of the UK where widescale use is made of a meter which offers customers automatic leak detection.

“Arad informs us Southern Water is amongst its customers from more than 50 countries around the world and that they support a multinational workforce which includes Palestinians.

However, Southern Water does not have any comments or position on the political issues of this matter.”