Repression in the courts is failing to silence Palestine campaigners

Palestine campaigners have been dragged through the UK courts over the last few months because of their intense direct action campaign against Israeli arms company Elbit Systems.

Elbit is Israel’s largest private drone manufacturer, and manufactures the majority of the drones that the Israeli military uses to attack Gaza. It also manufactures small-caliber ammunition for the Israeli army. Campaigners have been have been taking action against Elbit for more than a decade. However, the direct action campaign gathered momentum after the formation of Palestine Action in 2020. Campaigners have vowed to push Elbit out of the UK.

This week, three campaigners are standing trial in Southwark Crown Court, for an action in which they drenched the London HQ of Elbit Systems in red paint.

The #Kingsway5 trial will resume from tomorrow!

The 5 activists drenched the former London HQ of Israel's largest arms firm, where deadly deals were made. Now, it's time to turn out in mass to support Palestine Action's first Crown Court trial #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/6YNA1cK7gC

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 15, 2022

The action contributed to the closure of Elbit’s London offices. Direct action also forced the closure of Elbit’s Ferranti factory in Oldham earlier this year.

The campaigners are facing more than a dozen court cases against them over the next year, as a result of their persistent resistance against Elbit.

Refusing to be silenced

The state’s attempts to criminalise the campaigners haven’t slowed the pace of the solidarity campaign.

On 12 November, two people entered the House of Commons and defaced a statue of Lord Balfour. The action was in commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the Britain’s 1917 ‘Balfour declaration’, which paved the way for the mass colonisation of Palestinian land, which was under the colonial rule of the British mandate at the time:

BREAKING: Palestine Action strike the heart of the British government to deface Balfour's statue in the House of Commons #Balfour105 #DecolonisePalestine #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/C8udrktm5t

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 12, 2022

Then, the offices of Fisher German, which is the landlord for Elbit’s Shenstone factory, were damaged twice this week:

BREAKING: For the second time this week, Palestine Action strikes Fisher German, landlords of Israel's arms factory in Shenstone🔨 #ShutElbitDown #EvictElbit pic.twitter.com/fn0BJi32bU

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 16, 2022

BREAKING: Palestine Action smash and spray Fisher German, the managing agents of Israel's weapons factory in Shenstone. Actions only stop when Elbit's evicted #EvictElbit #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/HmHgDIoxe1

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 15, 2022

In Birmingham, people occupied Barclays Bank, calling for an end to investment in Elbit Systems:

Birmingham Palestine Action storm Barclays Bank, investors in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms firm, who market their weapons as “battle-tested” on the captive population of Gaza #ShutElbitDown pic.twitter.com/uEgFDZL31G

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 17, 2022

As we reported last week, a new anti-colonial rebellion is gathering momentum in Palestine. As Palestinians risk their lives to resist Israeli apartheid, it’s up to us to have their backs. The Palestine solidarity movement in the UK isn’t letting the unrelenting pressure from the police and courts stop its campaign of direct action. We need to stand with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, and defend those who are taking action here in the UK.

Featured image is of the four campaigners standing trial in Southwark Crown Court for taking action against Elbit via Palestine Action