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Palestine Action On Day Ten Of ‘The Siege’

May 11, 2023 Palestine Action. , , , ,
Yesterday the Israeli occupation bombarded densely populated areas of Gaza, murdering 13 Palestinians including 4 children. Not willing to tolerate British complicity in these sort of abuses, two actionists retaliated, this morning, against the British roots of Israeli aerial domination over Palestinians. Palestine Action drove a car through the inner perimiter of Leicester’s Israeli drone factory, UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), blockading the only entrance for the site. Two activists are using a lock on device to maintain the block in place, which immediately stopped a delivery from entering the premises. The action was completed despite enhanced security by the company and a permanent police operation put in place to protect the factory.

33 Arrests; The Siege Continues Despite Police Repression

May 5, 2023 Palestine Action. , , , ,
An unprecedented 33 arrests were made yesterday at the site of the Palestine Action siege, as Leicestershire Police took disproportionate measures using unjustifiable force against individuals who had turned out in opposition to Israel’s arms trade. The siege continues into its third day, a mass mobilisation against the UAV Tactical Systems drone factory in Leicester – owned by Israel’s largest weapons company, Elbit Systems. Leicestershire Police, having witnessed the speeches, workshops, dance, and community mobilisation that have characterised The Siege thus far, stepped in with all of the force at their disposal to intimidate and detain those standing against Elbit.

Palestine Action Blockade UAV Tactical Systems; Day Two Of The Siege

May 3, 2023 Palestine Action. , , ,
On Day Two of The Siege, four activists used lock-ons to block both roads which lead to the factory of Elbit subsidiary, UAV Tactical Systems. Completely cutting off access, the activists have put their bodies in the way and their liberties on the line, in determination that Elbit cannot be allowed to make their drone technologies in Leicester, not today nor any day to come. More developments are expected through the day, as scores continue to mobilise against UAV Tactical Systems in solidarity with the victims of Elbit weaponry in Palestine and elsewhere. With the south-side entrance already occupied – the road hosting a camp from the first day – the disruption to Elbit was intensified this morning.

The Siege Against Leicester’s Israeli Weapons Factory Begins

May 2, 2023 Palestine Action. , , ,
Palestine Action’s siege has begun. Hundreds have descended on Meridian Business Park in Leicester to force Elbit’s factory to shut down. The crowds began arriving this afternoon, and have been growing in number through the day. With banners, chants, flags, and rousing speeches delivered so far, the mass of people were welcomed later by an empowering performance by rapper and activist Lowkey, along with award winning actor and playwright Tayo Aluko, Palestinian Dabke, poetry, and more. The Siege against Leicester’s Elbit-owned UAV Tactical Systems (‘U-TacS’), is a mass action which involves huge numbers willing to remain at the site, using themselves to disrupt the flow of business.

Direct Action Succeeds In Weakening Support For Israeli Apartheid

April 24, 2023 Margaret Flowers, Clearing the FOG. , , , ,
In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, a statement of support for a Jewish State in Palestine. The United Kingdom has been a key ally of the Israeli Apartheid State since its inception. Palestinian rights activists in the UK, recognizing this reality, decided that direct action against entities that support apartheid would be the most effective strategy. Clearing the FOG speaks with Richard, a co-founder of Palestine Action, about the successes they have had over the past three years in their campaign targeting Elbit, an Israeli weapons maker, from forcing factories to close to creating a liability for the government that led to the cancellation of contracts. On May 1, Palestine Action will begin its first public action, the occupation of a factory in Leicester. Their intent is to stay until Elbit leaves. Learn more at PalestineAction.org.

Leicester’s Israeli Weapons Factory Issued With Eviction Notice

April 10, 2023 Palestine Action. , , , ,
Activists protesting outside of the UAV Tactical Systems factory in Leicester have issued Elbit with an eviction notice [1] – giving them one month to vacate the drone factory before the Palestine Action ‘siege’ commences on May 1st. The notice, handed to Elbit Systems under the authority of The Court (of Public Opinion), provides 30 days notice before the site will be met by a mass action, as the people of Leicester and groups and individuals from across Britain convene to force the Israeli weapons factory to close. At the same time, protestors gathered in Leicester city centre, publicly exposing Elbit and their activities a few miles away at the UAV Tactical Systems factory, holding banners, flares, flags and leaflets outlining their criminal actions

Palestine Action Declares A Siege On Leicester’s Israeli Arms Factory

February 19, 2023 Palestine Action. , , , ,
From May 1st, Palestine Action will lay siege to Leicester’s Israeli arms factory, UAV Tactical Systems. The mass action will include hundreds staying put for weeks on end, through day and night, refusing to leave until Elbit does. Drawing parallels with the decades-long siege of Gaza [1], Palestine Action’s siege will symbolically turn this process on its head and cut off Leicester’s link to Israel’s military supply chain. The direct action campaign against Elbit to date has forced Israel’s largest arms firm to lose their London Headquarters, Oldham arms factory, and over £280million in contracts with the Ministry of Defence.

More People Are In Court This Week For Taking Direct Action For Palestine

January 12, 2023 Tom Anderson, The Canary. , , ,
Two trials are starting this week, of people who took direct action against Israeli arms company Elbit Systems. Elbit supplies the majority of the drones that the Israeli military use to murder Palestinians. Last year The Canary wrote: Elbit manufactures around 85% of Israel’s drones which have been used to massacre Palestinians in Gaza.For example – during Israel’s 51 day attack on Gaza in 2014 – Israeli drones killed 840 Palestinians. Drones were also used extensively in Israel’s 11 day attack on Gaza in 2021. People have long tried to push the company out of the UK. And, the campaign to shut down Israeli arms companies operating in the UK stepped up after Palestine Action launched in 2020. nit This week the case of two people who blocked the doorway of Elbit’s London office is underway. Their protest was one of a series of disruptive actions that eventually contributed to the closure of Elbit’s London HQ.

2022 Saw Palestine Action’s Rise And Elbit’s Demise

December 31, 2022 Palestine Action. , , , ,
2022 started off with a bang, as January saw the publication of news of Elbit’s permanent closure of their Oldham factory. The victory came after an 18 month direct action battle waged against Elbit’s Ferranti factory in Oldham, which saw 36 arrests and millions of pounds of cumulative damage caused. Despite round-the-clock police patrols and massively heightened security, the efforts of Israel’s largest arms firm to protect their beloved weapons factory failed. The win embodied the power of direct action and community mobilisation – a major validation of Palestine Action’s strategy.  Next up, we took aim at their remaining sites. With momentum ripe following our first long-term victory, people across the country geared up to tear down Elbit factories and premises.

Palestine Action Smash Israeli Arms Firm’s Commercial Lawyers

December 6, 2022 Palestine Action. , , ,
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. [1] At night, activists descended upon the firm’s London branch, brandishing hammers and paint.[2] 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. 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.

Elbit Systems UK Fired From £280 Million Worth Of Defence Contracts

December 1, 2022 Palestine Action. , , ,
Minister of State for Defence Procurement Alex Chalk has confirmed that Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of Israel’s largest arms company Elbit Systems LTD, has been forced out of lucrative contracts to deliver training for Dreadnought submarine and Royal Navy crews [1, 2]. The Ministry of Defence has ejected Elbit from a contract worth £160m to deliver Dreadnought crew training, and is ‘negotiating the departure’ of Elbit from a £123m contract for ‘Project Selborne’ Royal Navy training, stating that Elbit now falls short of ‘operational sovereignty standards for the UK’s highest priority capabilities’. These submissions were made by Chalk in Parliament in responses to questions by Labour MPs Chris Evans, and Kevan Jones – both associated with the ‘Labour Friends of Israel’ group – and by Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey.

Repression In The Courts Is Failing To Silence Palestine Campaigners

November 23, 2022 Tom Anderson, The Canary. , , , ,
Palestine campaigners have been dragged through the UK courts over the last few months because of their intense direct action campaign against Israeli arms company Elbit Systems. Elbit is Israel’s largest private drone manufacturer, and manufactures the majority of the drones that the Israeli military uses to attack Gaza. It also manufactures small-caliber ammunition for the Israeli army. Campaigners have been have been taking action against Elbit for more than a decade. However, the direct action campaign gathered momentum after the formation of Palestine Action in 2020. Campaigners have vowed to push Elbit out of the UK. This week, three campaigners are standing trial in Southwark Crown Court, for an action in which they drenched the London HQ of Elbit Systems in red paint.

Palestine Action Crashes Gates Of Israeli Arms Factory

October 3, 2022 Palestine Action. , , ,
This morning, two vans made a morning delivery from Palestine Action to the the gates of the UAV Engines drones factory in Shenstone. One van has crashed into the gate, while the second is blocking it and obstructing entry to the Israeli drone engine factory. Two activists were arrested in the process, while the remaining activists swiftly locked-on to the vans, preventing the vans’ removal and bringing the site to a standstill. The UAV Engines factory is operated by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company, as one of the firm’s eight remaining British locations. Police and Elbit Systems’ hired security have acted swiftly, erecting checkpoints around the town of Shenstone and temporarily closing the road leading to the factory.

Activists Unlawfully Arrested In Raids On Palestine Action Camp

September 14, 2022 Palestine Action. , , ,
Yesterday, 14 activists were unlawfully arrested after manning the Palestine Action Camp for the past two weeks. The activists were arrested under the pretext of “conspiracy to commit criminal damage”, despite no evidence given for these claims. It would appear the arrests were part of an attempt to remove activists, ahead of an event outside the factory that called for mass mobilisation. During the raid, devices were seized, equipment damaged deliberately and packed up by police, who then cordoned the whole camp off, marking it a “crime scene”. Those arrested were released in the early hours of today. Although no crime was committed, bail conditions were given that have left activists unable to attend Elbit sites, unable to be in Shenstone, and told they cannot “directly or indirectly encourage any individuals, groups or organisations to cause any damage to property owned, leased, rented and/or occupied by Elbit Systems, its subsidiaries and/or venture partners”.

Palestine Action’s ‘Elbit Eight’ Prepare For Landmark Court Case

September 8, 2022 Palestine Action. , , , ,
On October 10th, eight Palestine Action activists (including cofounders Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard) dubbed the ‘#ElbitEight’ will be facing trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The trial is expected to last five weeks and includes charges of burglary, criminal damage and blackmail, pertaining to actions spanning the first six months of Palestine Action. In this timeframe the accused activists helped to spark Palestine Action, the direct action network that has successfully shut down both a factory and headquarters belonging to Israel’s largest arms company, Elbit Systems. Palestine Action have dubbed it their “biggest legal battle to #ShutElbitDown to date, offering up the chance to expose Elbit in the courts and prove that #ElbitIsGuilty”.
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