PRESS RELEASE
24/5/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Two Palestine Action activists remain in prison after being denied bail at a hearing.
- The two were part of a crew of 9 who occupied and dismantled the headquarters of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company.
- Palestine Action have called for greater resistance in the face of repression, urges supporters to join the campaign to ‘Shut Elbit Down’, marking Elbit as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘running scared’.
- An ongoing campaign for the prisoners’ release
After being denied bail by a Bristol Crown Court Judge, two Palestine Action activists are set to remain in prison. The 2 are part of a larger team of 9 activists who, on Nakba day, occupied and damaged the Bristol headquarters of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company. All 9 were placed on remand and jailed, and though 7 have been released, Stav Sinai and Ronnie Barkan remain awaiting trial.
Throughout its nearly 2 years of existence, Palestine Action has been subject to a campaign of state repression and intimidation. However, the taking of political prisoners has set a concerning new precedent for the group. In response, the group has promised ‘no backdown to the crackdown’, and called for heightened direct action against Elbit, who produce drones, ammunition, and chemical weapons. The company supplies the Israeli occupation military with 85% of its drone fleet.
The move to greater repression has come after victory for the campaign in January, when direct action and community organising permanently shut down and Elbit weapons factory in Oldham, Manchester. Palestine Action has seen constantly growing support both domestically and internationally, and it is suspected that these events have been in response to the success of the campaign, delivered by the British state which is heavily allied with Israel and fears resistance to the Israeli arms trade in Britain. Noteably, a delegation of Israeli police were recently received by the British metropolitan police, presumably to share tactics and strategies.
A Palestine Action spokesperson has said:
“As the British state moves to crackdown on our campaign against Elbit – owing to its mass support in communities and our no-nonsense use of direct action, we say we won’t backdown to the crackdown, and will respond with greater resistance. Our two brave activists have sacrificed their liberty in the fight to Shut Elbit Down, and we will fight day and night for their release. Supporters can write letters to the two prisoners (email to palactprisoners@protonmail.com), or join protests in Bristol demanding their release. Anyone and everyone who longs to see a free Palestine: Now is the time to join Palestine Action, resist the crackdown, and Shut Elbit Down.”
Bristol HQ Action Press Release:
If you would like any further information on Palestine action, please contact info@palestineaction.org
Supporters of the prisoners can send in letters to: palactprisoners@protonmail.com
Palestine Action is a direct-action network of groups and individuals formed with the mandate of taking direct action against Elbit Systems’ UK locations at grassroots level, calling for them all to be shut down and for the British government to end its complicity in Israeli apartheid.
For previous actions please see: https://www.palestineaction.org/news/
ELBIT SYTEMS
Company profile on Elbit Systems: https://whoprofits.org/company/elbit-systems/
Detail on Al-Aqsa mosque attacks: Israel storms Al-Aqsa, beats Palestinian worshipers to make way for Jewish settlers – Mondoweiss
Bombardment of Gaza: Israel strikes Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket as tensions soar in Jerusalem – CBS News
Role of Elbit drone in killing of four children paying on Gaza beach in 2014: https://theintercept.com/2018/08/11/israel-palestine-drone-strike-operation-protective-edge/
More on the death and destruction inflicted by Elbit’s drones upon Gaza: https://corporatewatch.org/elbit-systems-company-profile-2/