Above Photo: Guy Smallman.
Palestine Action marked a new target in the campaign to #ShutElbitDown recently, with covert activists targeting MLL Legal – the Swiss law firm responsible for providing commercial law services to Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company.
At night, activists descended upon the firm’s London branch, brandishing hammers and paint. The site windows were shattered and the building front drenched in paint, leaving the site inoperable and increasing pressure on the firm to terminate all ties with Elbit.
BREAKING: Palestine Action smash MLL Legal – the commercial law firm securing contracts for Israel’s largest arms firm. Legalising war criminals means facing Palestine Action #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/9v7X49ksqy
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) December 2, 2022
MLL Legal describe Elbit Systems as one of their ‘key clients’ to whom they provide commercial law services (such as contracts and acquisitions), making possible the arms company’s operations. They are one amongst a number of companies who provide a variety of services to Elbit.
Though several have already been heavily targeted by Palestine Action, the direct action network has declared that “action is no longer a question of if, but when” for firms engaged with Elbit. Elbit supplies the Israeli military with 85% of its combat drone fleet, and recently lost £280 million of UK MoD contracts following intense direct action from Palestine Action.
A Palestine Action spokesperson has said:
MLL Legal’s claims to value ‘societal benefit’ fall flat when you inspect their relationship with Elbit Systems, who on British soil are producing armed drones that will go on to shatter lives in Palestine. There is no moral grey ground here – if you’re complicit in the terror inflicted on Palestine, expect to be targetted. MLL Legal and all others: cut ties with Elbit Systems, or face Palestine Action.