Unlike many movements that come and go, Palestine Action’s direct action campaign against Israeli arms company Elbit Systems has not only survived for four years, but is going from strength to strength, partly because of the urgency of the situation as Israel continues to act with impunity committing genocide in the Middle East, but more so for the bravery of hundreds who have acted out of a desire for justice and peace.
When Real Media filmed the first action on July 31st 2020 – a short occupation and redecoration of Elbit’s London office (since closed after sustained protests there) – we had no idea how powerful and effective the group would become.
A huge factory in Oldham was closed permanently in 2022 after sustained pressure and damaging occupations. Earlier this year, a factory in Tamworth was sold after repeated actions cost Elbit too much in repairs and extra security – it now makes parts for civil transport.
The campaign has also expanded to secondary targets, recently launching a new website for campaigners to identify and plan actions. To date, Midlands property managers Fischer German have dropped all ties to Elbit, recruitment agency iO Associates dropped Elbit (their biggest client), website hosts Naked Creativity stopped working with the company, and one of the world’s biggest shipping companies, Kuehne and Nagel, have also announced the end of their relationship with Elbit.
As with climate activists, Palestine Action supporters have seen a change in the way trials are conducted over the years. When they have been able to explain their motives and highlight the major role Elbit Systems has had in the oppression and murder of Palestinian people, early trials ended with acquittals or light sentences.
But in the same way that think-tanks (funded by fossil fuel companies) have influenced government policy and seen draconian new laws enacted against climate protesters, evidence emerged of Israeli government interference at a high level, both in the overall persecution of the movement, and in the erosion of legal defences at trial.
When five climate activists were sent to prison for 21 years between them, after Judge Christopher Hehir ruled they had no legal defences and prevented the jury from seeing a dossier of defence evidence relating to climate change, Huda Ammori spoke at a rally outside Southwark Court, illustrating the parallels and calling for unity between all our different related struggles for justice and security.
Watch Real Media’s half-hour documentary – A Year Of Direct Action Against Elbit Systems UK
