PRESS RELEASE
27/01/22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Another Palestine Action activist has walked free from ‘criminal damage’ charges, after the CPS once again dropped charges ahead of trial
- Activist took action against the DSEI arms fair in London, allegedly scaling the fence and covering the event’s entryway entirely in blood-red paint, to remind attendees of the blood of Palestinians which is on the hands of arms firms in attendance.
- Event offered an opportunity for firms such as Elbit Systems, Raytheon, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin to showcase their products and normalise their murderous operations.
- This follows recent victories in courts, with Palestine Action activists winning every single case brought against them, and the state failing to prosecute a single individual for action taken against Elbit and the war-crimes industry.
An activist has had their ‘criminal damage’ trial dropped, four months after taking action to disrupt the DSEI arms fair in London. The activist was informed the day before the trial was due to commence at Romford Magistrates Court that it would not be going ahead. This was due to there being an ‘unrealistic prospect of conviction’ – somewhat predictably after the CPS have failed to successfully prosecute a single Palestine Action activist for actions taken.
The DSEI action involved spraying the event’s entire entryway in blood-red paint, in an action symbolising the Palestinian bloodshed which is facilitated by the operations of firms in attendance of the event. The arms fair – which describes itself as the “worlds largest gathering of the defence and security community” – took place on London’s docklands, with activists involved taking action to prevent the normalisation of the war-crimes industry. Elbit Systems – who have been the target of a sustained campaign of direct action by Palestine Action – were key exhibitors of the event, and their products are a central pillar of Israeli apartheid and war crimes commited against Palestinian civilians. Also in attendance were the likes of Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin, whos operations have facilitated the widespread murder and repression of civilians across the globe.
The CPS have failed to successfully prosecute a single Palestine Action activist despite a spate of recent opportunities. After a ‘not guilty’ verdict in December 2021, and a trial thrown out by a judge this month, this is another significant victory for Palestine Action’s movement against British complicity in Israeli apartheid. Despite millions of pounds of damage caused, not a single activist has been convicted – and Palestine Action have accordingly called for the police to stop arresting individuals who are taking humanitarian action against the architects of Israel’s brutality:
“Once again, charges have been dropped after months of intimidation and restrictive bail conditions, with the CPS finding again that they have no chance of securing a conviction. With even the courts system able to recognise that Elbit and its fellow arms dealers are the real criminals here, the only logical option is for the police to cease their harrassment, intimidation and violence against our activists. It is the war criminals inside the arms fair that should be arrested and tried – not the brave individuals taking action to expose them”.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
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.
Palestine Action take action to disrupt the DSEI arms fair: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210920-apologies-and-compensation-are-simply-not-good-enough-for-the-victims-of-drone-attacks/
Activists found ‘not guilty in first ever Palestine Action trial: https://www.palestineaction.org/not-guilty/
Palestine Action shut down Elbit’s Oldham factory permanently:
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/01/victory-in-oldham-elbit-forced-to-sell-ferranti-after-sustained-direct-action-campaign/
Elbit Systems
Company profile on Elbit Systems, including quote by Israeli military general: https://whoprofits.org/company/elbit-systems/
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/
Elbit surveillance technology for Israel’s apartheid wall: https://www.facing-finance.org/en/database/cases/elbit-systems-surveillance-system-torch-for-the-separation-barrier-in-israelpalestine/
UK Ministry of Defence signs £102 million contract with Elbit Systems UK for “sensor-to-shoot” system: https://www.army-technology.com/news/uk-mod-orders-elbit-detect-and-destroy-system/