PRESS RELEASE
15/05/22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- This afternoon, activists began a destructive occupation of Elbit Systems’s hub in Bristol; barricading themselves inside.
- Today’s action commemorates Nakba Day; activists demand an end to British complicity in Israeli war crimes, which have been ongoing since 1948.
- Elbit’s Bristol HQ was targeted to disrupt and prevent operations of Israel’s largest arms provider.
- A group of activists, incluing two dissident Israeli citizens, have blockaded, stormed, destroyed and occupied the site since the early hours of this morning.
Actionists stormed the flagship premises of Elbit Systems, in Bristol, this afternoon; destroying the building’s interior, dismantling offices and equipment, and barricading themselves inside, while others blocked road access to the site. The large group of activists, which includes two Israeli dissidents, have taken direct action against Elbit Systems to demand an end to British complicity with Israeli apartheid.
This action takes place on the 74th annual Nakba Day, which commemorates the atrocities perpetrated by Zionist militia, against Palestinians, during the establishment of the modern day State of Israel. In 1948, armed Zionist extremists forcefully displaced more than half the indigenous population of Palestine, massacring many thousands who remained. Palestinians call this historical event the Nakba, which means ‘catastrophe’. Israel’s violent policies of ethnic cleansing, land theft, occupation and siege continue to this day, underpinned by an apartheid system.
Despite Israel’s many documented war crimes, including the recent assasination of the beloved journalist, Shireen Abu Aqleh, the apartheid state has consistently received unwaivering support from Western governments. British complicity dates back to the British Mandate over Palestine and the subsequent signing of the Balfour Agreement, in 1917, which put the land of Palestine in the hands of Zionists. Britain continues to support the apartheid regime today via the export of weapons made by Elbit Systems on British soil. Today, we say: it ends now.
Elbit Systems operates across 9 different sites in the UK. The Bristol location, which is leased from Sedgemore District Council, is Elbit’s main operational facility. This action therefore hits at the heart of Elbit’s strategic centre, to cause maximum obstruction to business as usual. Elbit Systems has partnered and worked with many subsidiaries and companies to supply the Israeli military with more weapons than any other business alone. From British-made drone components to destructive artillery, and contracts with the British military, targeting Elbit Systems is key to ending Britain’s role in Israel’s violent apartheid.
“We aim to permanently disrupt the Britsh-Israeli weapons trade by haulting Elbit’s production of weapons on British shores. Our mission to #ShutElbitDown will continue to target every Elbit location and complicit party, across Britain. As the ongoing Nakba continues, so do our efforts to dismantle Britain’s role in supporting Israeli apartheid.”
The action was streamed live, and videos can be viewed on Palestine Action’s Twitter.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Photos are free to use. Please Credit Guy Smallman
If you would like any further information on Palestine action, please contact info@palestineaction.org
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/