PRESS RELEASE
07/09/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photos are free to use, with credit to Martin Pope
- Activists have positioned two cars outside the gates of Israeli weapons company Elbit’s ‘UAV Engines’, initiating an in-car lock-on, throwing paint and refusing to move or abandon the vehicles
- Today’s action has left the entrance barricaded – preventing workers from entering and halting business as usual for Israel’s largest arms company
- Though the site has been hit by action for over two years, on August 27 the Palestine Action Camp began with a tree-top occupation began opposite the premises – promising not to leave until Elbit does
- The gate-crashing action represents a continuation of the siege on the Israeli drones factory, ongoing at the site for almost two weeks
Early this morning, two vehicles were parked across the gates of Elbit Systems’ UAV Engines in Shenstone, forcing the Israeli drones factory to close for the day. The activists behind the wheel threw paint and quickly initiated lock-ons, preventing removal of themselves and the vehicles from the location and leaving operations halted at UAV Engines.
This latest move from Palestine Action is part of a wider, heightened campaign to cause disruption for Elbit Systems, heightening pressure against Israel’s largest arms company until the firm is forced to permanently close every one of its eight remaining British sites. Palestine Action have said “Despite increased repression from police and security, nothing will deter us from taking action, nor will it deter locals from standing in solidarity with us. Between Israel’s warlords and our grassroots mass movement, it’s Palestine Action who are in the driver’s seat.”
The camp has ignited local support in the mission to #ShutElbitDown in Shenstone, as individuals have erected their own protest tents to support Actionists, and numerous local residents have come by expressing support. As was the case at Elbit’s erstwhile site in Oldham, it was community opposition and routine direct action that forced the closure of Elbit Ferranti this past January.
For the past 12 days, since the establishment of the Palestine Action Camp, scenes outside the factory on Lynn Lane have been a sea of solidarity – helmed by Palestine Actionists, and bolstered by both mounting local support and protestors with a permanent presence. In contrast, Staffordshire Police Force have cooperated with violent security guards to protect the production of Israeli weaponry.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “The agenda against Elbit is steered by activists who remain resolute, steadfast and determined – placing their bodies on the line and holding their ground in the camp. Their work has been bolstered by the support of locals, and on Saturday, at 5pm, both will be joined by British-Iraqi rapper and activist Lowkey, who will be performing outside the factory and speaking on the battle against Elbit. It falls on us all to #ShutElbitDown”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Elbit forced to close its London HQ: https://mondoweiss.net/2022/06/israeli-weapons-maker-shuts-london-hq-following-sustained-protest/
Elbit closes Oldham factory in January: https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/uk-admits-activists-forced-elbit-sell-factory
Upcoming trial of the #ElbitEight: https://www.palestinechronicle.com/elbit-is-guilty-we-are-not-palestine-group-founders-face-38-years-in-prison/
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’ British locations at grassroots level, calling for them all to be shut down and for the British government to end its complicity in Israeli apartheid.
ELBIT SYSTEMS
Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest arms company, with 8 remaining sites in Britain. They manufacture weapons including drones, artillery and target acquisition software in Britain. All of which are marketed as “battle-tested” or “combat-proven” – as tested on the captive population of Gaza.
Company profile on Elbit Systems: https://whoprofits.org/company/elbit-systems/
Role of Elbit drone in killing of four children playing 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/