#Elbit UK

[probablyasocialecologist]

[kropotkindersurprise]

July 15, 2024 - Palestine Action activists infiltrated the factory of the company Hydrafeed in Milton Keynes, UK, which supplies machinery to Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems. They used a rope ladder from the roof of Hydrafeed's factory to break into the building, where dozens of activists smashed machines and equipment, before leaving undetected.

Hydrafeed’s machinery is used to produce arms by Elbit’s Instro Precision factory, which has had over 80 separate licenses to export weapons to Israel since 2016.

Through direct action, the activists have prevented Hydrafeed’s ability to provide Elbit Systems with a “rapid response for breakdowns, repairs, spares and replacement parts,” effectively disrupting the supply of machines used to arm Israel’s war of extermination against Gaza.

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Anyone who remains a partner of the Israeli weapons maker has done a serious moral and financial miscalculation as Palestine Action will break every link of Elbit’s supply chain, which involves targeting Elbit’s suppliers and of course, shutting Elbit down. We will not allow any institution to continue facilitating the bloody massacres of the Palestinian people.” [link]

[unsolicited-opinions]

This article is baffling to me.

It didn't say much about what Zoe Rogers and the others were charged with. Here's what Reuters says:

Seven people, aged between 20 and 51, are charged with criminal damage and aggravated burglary over an incident at the Elbit premises near Bristol in southwest England on Aug. 6.

Six of the seven have also been charged with violent disorder over the action in which, prosecutors say, a repurposed prison van was used to smash through fencing before some of the group damaged items in the warehouse with sledgehammers.

One of the group – Samuel Corner, 22 – has additionally been charged with grievous bodily harm for allegedly hitting a police officer with a sledgehammer and two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Said Zoe's mom, Clare Rogers:

"Someone who believes so passionately in justice, is lamenting the deaths of innocent civilians and children. To be called a terrorist That really disgusts me. It makes me very angry and it worries me about the future of activists in this country, and the expression of free speech."

Clare, Zoe's mom, thinks that politically motivated breaking and entering, burglary, and destruction of property are somehow 'free speech?' How about hitting the cop with a sledgehammer? Was that free speech too, Clare? If Zoe 'believes so passionately in justice..." maybe she should study criminal law- because prosecuting crimes is sorta' necessary for justice.

"She is someone who is very loving and very shy," Clare says of her daughter.

...not in this instance, Clare.

And it turns out these dipshits targeted a facilty which doesn't support the IDF on any way. It supports the UK military - and that's in this same article:

Elbit Systems UK told the BBC: "We are proud to provide critical support and advanced technology to the British armed forces from our sites in Bristol, and this work has continued uninterrupted today.

"Any claims that these facilities supply the Israeli military or Israeli Ministry of Defence are completely false.”

The BBC puff piece continues:

Some UK human rights organisations are concerned the legal definition of terrorism is too wide and is increasingly being used to crack down on legitimate protest and free speech.

Hang the fuck on. None of the charges, B&E, burglary, destruction of property...none of these are covered by legal protections for free speech or protest. Where the fuck do you get off trying to pretend this is a free speech issue?

Clare Rogers continues whining about the Finding Out part of her daughter Zoe's Fucking Around:

"She should be at university now. She'd got a place to start this autumn, her first year at university," said Clare of her daughter, who has been diagnosed as autistic.

I'm autistic. Many members of my family are autistic. How is this relevant to the story?

"She worked so hard for that place. She had to do an extra year of sixth form because of Covid; she didn't get the A-levels she needed for her chosen university.

"She did another year of study, got the place, and now she can't start. She can't even start next year, because she will be standing trial. That has been devastating for her."

Yes, Clare. When one commits crimes, being held accountable for them can really get in the way of one's plans. Do you know what would have kept her goals on track? Not commiting crimes.

I don't know anything about UK criminal law or UK national security law, but the privilege coming from Clare Rogers and the enabling of the BBC is extraordinary to me.

If a US 20-year-old broke into a facility of a US military contractor and started smashing things and got caught...and their mom whined about the consequences for that criminal act, the next news cycle would be broad condemnation of that parent.

Saw an article

*girl performs an act of terrorism* "she should be in college right now."

Yeah, but funny thing when you break the law, you go to jail.

Here is the article I read about it. It's a puff piece tbh but, you do the crime, you do the time.

[commiepinkofag]

Activists protest against the bombing of Gaza blockade the entrance to the Instro Precision factory in Sandwich, Kent, a subsidiary of Israeli owned Elbit Systems, 26 October 2023 [📷 Guy Smallman]

[theinconvenientlifestyle]

middleeasteye

Police in the UK have used powers under the Terrorism Act to detain six pro-Palestine activists involved in a direct action protest against an Israel-owned arms factory.

Last week, members of Palestine Action were arrested after crashing a modified prison van into an Elbit Systems factory in the Filton area of Bristol.

Video footage shared by the group showed activists spraying red paint and using sledgehammers to damage machinery inside the facility.

Under the Terrorism Act, police can detain individuals for up to seven days, with the possibility of extending this period by an additional 14 days without formal charges.

In response to the arrests, dozens of pro-Palestine activists staged a protest outside Hammersmith Police Station on Sunday, where some of the detainees were taken after their arrest.

A spokesperson for Palestine Action described the use of the Terrorism Act as "unprecedented" and condemned the police for attempting to discredit their activists.

Elbit Systems opened its Filton site in Bristol in May 2021 with a £9m ($11.5m) investment. The facility focuses on advanced manufacturing and the development of high-tech military systems, including drones and surveillance technology.

Palestine Action has been targeting Elbit Systems sites across the UK for years due to the company's role as one of Israel's largest arms manufacturers.

Elbit's weapons have been used in conflicts with Palestinians, including in the ongoing war in Gaza, where Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Elbit supplies 85 percent of Israel's military drones and land-based equipment. It also exports drones, aircraft components, military electronics and other military systems to Britain.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

Blockading factories is probably one of the most effective thing people in the UK (and elsewhere in the Western world) can do to support Palestine right now.

Donations that will actually reach the ground are also good.

I'm not saying marches and other actions aren't worthwhile- I do think they are. If a senior UK politician called for a ceasefire, that would be something. And obviously if we could persuade the UK government to ban the export of arms and military parts to Israel, that would be huge.

But in the meantime, if we can stop arms from being built, if we can slow down the Israeli war machine at all, that may save lives.

And the more people who turn up to these actions, the better- this makes them safer and more effective.

Also, for transport workers, especially in ports, if we can stop this stuff leaving the country, that is incredibly valuable too.

[nando161mando]

Palestine Action shuts down supplier of Israel's largest arms firm

Palestine Action group occupied Grid Defence Systems, physically destroying part of the supply chain for weapons that supply the Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza.

The targeting of Grid Defence Systems, was cracked down upon by riot police. The company is a military hardware suppliers for several arms companies including Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. While the U.K. government continue to arm Israel’s ongoing war crimes, Palestine Action escalates its attempts to prevent such weapons being creating in Britain to begin with.

[gender0bender]

Take Direct Action for Palestine

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Image description: A black red and white graphic that reads "Direct Action Training Day Manchester. Apply to join: www.palestineaction.org/apply. Sunday 18th February 10am - 4pm Location TBC. To the left of the text is a cannister with Palestine Action stencilled on it. End description. Text from post: Britain is home to several Israeli weapons firms, including Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. Elbit manufacture tanks, bullets, drones and munitions for the Israeli military and market their weaponry as “battle-tested” on the Palestinian people. The Israeli war machine is operating in Britain, and through direct action we can stop it in its tracks. The British government has been complicit in the colonisation of Palestine for over 100 years - protests and lobbying efforts has failed to change that. This refusal for the powers that be to end their participation in Israeli war crimes, and the presence of Israeli weapons factories on our doorstep, demands a more effective and direct approach - direct action. In the words of the late David Graeber: “Protest is like begging the powers that be to dig a well. Direct action is digging the well yourself and daring them to stop you”  Palestine Action is running training days across the country, to bring together like minded people for a day of talks, trainings and group discussions. All of which is geared towards harnessing the strength of the grassroots and directing it towards bringing down Israel’s war machine.  Training days: MANCHESTER [Sunday 18th February 10AM-4PM] BIRMINGHAM [Saturday 24th February 2PM-7PM] LONDON [Sunday 25th February 11AM-5PM] BRISTOL [Sunday 3rd March 11AM-5PM] Apply to join at palestineaction.org/apply

[the-lady-maddy]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palestine Action (@pal_action)

[probablyasocialecologist]

Internal government documents show that Home Office ministers and staff tried to influence police and prosecutors to crack down on activists targeting the UK factories of an Israeli arms manufacturer, campaigners have claimed. Briefing notes, obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests by Palestine Action, show details of government meetings, predating the 7 October Hamas attacks and Israel’s response in Gaza, intended to “reassure” Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms manufacturer, which is subject to a direct action campaign by the campaign group. Prosecutions of Palestine Action activists, who say they are trying to protect Palestinian lives and stop war crimes, have led to some convictions, including for burglary and criminal damage, but also acquittals by juries and magistrates despite defendants admitting their actions. As well as Home Office ministers attending meetings with Elbit Systems representatives, the heavily redacted briefing notes show that one was attended by a director from the Attorney General’s Office said to be representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). They also show that Home Office officials contacted the police about Palestine Action.

[...]

Documents previously revealed through FoI requests suggested Israeli embassy officials in London attempted to get the Attorney General’s Office to intervene in UK court cases relating to the prosecution of protesters.

30 September 2024

[kropotkindersurprise]

July 21, 2024 - Palestine Action activists have broken into two factories which are part of Elbit’s supply chain, causing extensive damage. One group invaded the premises of Manchester-based Dean Group International, and another broke into Ametek Airtechnology in Sunbury on Thames.

Dean Group International uses a specialised technique called “investment casting” to manufacture components for arms companies, including Elbit’s Kent-based subsidiary, Instro Precision. This was verified last month when activists broke into the latter factory.

Ametek Airtechnology specialises in thermal and motion control solutions for weapons including missiles, military vehicles and fighter jets — including Israeli F-35 fighter jets used to bomb in Gaza. Ametek’s subsidiary United Electronic Industries lists Elbit Systems as a “valued customer” – a connection which was also confirmed through sightings of deliveries to Elbit’s Shenstone-based subsidiary, UAV Engines Ltd.

A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Without suppliers such as Dean Group International and Ametek, Elbit couldn’t make weaponry which is used to commit genocide. Whilst our government continues to facilitate Elbit’s crimes, Palestine Action will continue to use direct action to end the complicity and shut Elbit down”. [video]/[video]

[pinkchunder]

[documenting-apartheid]

JANUARY 10, 2024- The co-founder of Palestine Action writes about her and fellow activists’ acquittal by a UK court for attempting to close down the Israeli arms firm’s operations in Britain.

"For over a decade, the UK has been a safe haven for Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems. "

"Elbit’s business model involves manufacturing bullets, drones, combat vehicles, electronic warfare systems and missiles, using the Israeli state’s criminal attacks on Gaza as opportunities to test and develop their latest lethal inventions. 

"The company was born out of a need to profit from and maintain Israel’s brutal occupation of the Palestinian people."

"Since 7 October, Israel has killed over 23,000 Palestinians, 9,600 of them being children, injured more than 58,000 people, destroyed over 70% of Gaza’s civil infrastructure and displaced over 1.9m people. "

"Elbit’s CEO Bezhalel Machlis boasted that the company is crucial to the ongoing genocide and has been thanked by the Israeli military for its services."

Palestine Action defendants including Huda Ammori (4th from right) outside court. (Photo: Martin Pope via Getty)

"During Israel’s intensified genocide of the Palestinian people, I was sitting in the dock of a court facing 11 charges for disrupting the production of weapons used to murder them. "

"Between the eight of us on trial, there were 35 counts on the indictment to defeat. "

“Our state’s complicity in the occupation of Palestine left me with no other viable option than direct action”

"Ultimately, we walked in facing varying amounts of prison time and received none. I was told if convicted on all the charges facing me I would be looking at a 4-5 year prison sentence." 

"Yet we all walked out as free people, and two of the eight were acquitted of all charges. An incredible result when facing the British state’s wrath for having stood on the right side of history. "

[post-leffert]

Palestine Action target the Manchester offices of BNY Mellon and Barclays. Both banks invest in Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems #ShutElbitDown

[indizombie]

The UK government and arms industry are both complicit in Israel’s killing of seven aid workers in Gaza, including three British citizens, the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), has alleged. The workers were killed by a strike from a Hermes 450 drone manufactured by Israeli-owned company Elbit Systems. The drone is powered by a UK-made R902(W) Wankel engine, produced by Elbit subsidiary UAV Engines Limited in the UK.

Sandi, ‘UK is ‘complicit’ in Israel's killing of British aid workers in Gaza, says CAAT’, Middle East Monitor

[feckcops]

Palestine Activists Are Planning to Besiege an Israeli Weapons Factory

“On 1 April, Palestine Action (PA) was only half-joking when it served Elbit Systems with an eviction notice. On 1 May, the group plans to occupy the Israeli weapons company’s Leicester factory for the second time in just over a year. Founded in July 2020 by a pair of longtime pro-Palestine activists disillusioned with polite resistance – co-founder Huda Ammori quit her job at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign after tiring of the NGO model of political campaigning – PA has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most militant direct action groups. Andrew Feinstein, a South African anti-apartheid activist, arms trade expert and PA advisor, called the group ‘undoubtedly the most effective campaign against a specific arms company I’ve seen anywhere in the world’.

“The group’s sole target, Elbit Systems, is Israel’s largest private weapons manufacturer, which happens to have a major UK manufacturing base. PA’s preferred tactics are raids and occupations; images of its activists in red boiler suits and black balaclavas scaling and spraypainting redbrick buildings have become fixtures across mainstream media. Since launching, PA has occupied all five of Elbit’s UK sites, one of which the company sold off last January after multiple rooftop occupations; the company also abandoned its London HQ in the summer after PA activists occupied and defaced it. The Siege, which starts on 1 May, will see PA return to the Leicester factory they first occupied two years ago (activists were eventually removed by police after six days).

“At a time when many activists are feeling burned out by intensifying crises and relentless repression, PA keeps upping the ante. How do they do it? Feinstein attributes PA’s success in part to its laser focus on one target. Just as activists in his home country targeted Barclays and Royal Dutch Shell for their engagement with the apartheid government, rather than attempting to pressure the entire banking or oil sector, he says that PA has chosen its target ‘very cleverly’.”