Palestine Action

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Palestine Action
FormationJuly 2020; 1 year ago (2020-07)[1]
TypeActivist group
PurposeEnd to Israeli apartheid
Palestinian liberation
Region
United Kingdom
Websitepalestineaction.org

Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses civil disobedience tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. In particular, the group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Protests[]

Palestine Action was founded on 30th July 2020 when activists broke into and spray-painted the interior of Elbit Systems' UK headquarters in London.[1]

On 19th May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, four members of the group dressed in red boiler suits climbed onto the roof of an Elbit Systems-owned drone factory in Meridian Business Park, Leicester.[2][3][4] The occupation lasted six days, and a total of 10 arrests were made for conspiracy to commit criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[2]

The group have staged similar occupations of Elbit Systems sites in Bristol,[5] Oldham in collaboration with Extinction Rebellion[6][7][8] and Tamworth[9] in collaboration with Animal Rebellion.[10]

On 10th June 2021, three protestors from the group "stormed, scaled and occupied" an APPH drone factory in Runcorn. [11] Activists daubed red paint on the exterior, dismantled drone and aircraft machinery and destroyed windows.[11][12] The next day all three were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.[13]

On 14th June, the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell fire, a similar occupation protest was staged at an Arconic factory in Kitts Green, Birmingham by three protestors.[14] Arconic provided the cladding that allowed the rapid transmission of fire across Grenfell tower, and according to Palestine Action provide "materials for Israel's fighter jets".[14] The occupation ended when two activists were arrested from the roof of the building two days later.[15] One activist was remanded in prison and immediately went on hunger strike.[16] The activist said they would end their strike if any one of four conditions were met: release of Palestine Action protestors; the eviction of Elbit from its London headquarters by property firm LaSalle Investment Management; the closure of all Elbit Systems’ British operations or; release by the government of all correspondence and documents relating to its dealings with Elbit and its subsidiaries.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network | The Canary". www.thecanary.co. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Leicester pro-Palestinian drone factory protest ends after six days". BBC News. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ Bedford, Corey (2021-05-24). "Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest". LeicestershireLive.
  4. ^ "Elbit protest: Pro-Palestine activists 'shut down' drone factory". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. ^ Cork, Tristan (2021-04-13). "Protesters target Israeli arms company in Bristol". BristolLive. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Elbit: Activists stage protest at Oldham weapons factory". BBC News. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ^ RiellyMonday, Bethany (2021-02-01). "XR joins forces with Palestinian rights activists to shut down Israeli arms factory in Oldham". Morning Star. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Extinction Rebellion and Palestine Action activists protest Israeli-linked firm". jewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. ^ Reporter, JAmedia.uk Breaking Issues (2021-05-25). "Palestine Action Protest of Elite KL Tamworth May 2021". TJAmedia.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. ^ Reporter, Justin Knowles-Breaking Issues (2021-03-16). "Palestine Action and Animal Rebellion Shut Tamworth Factory". Tamworth Informed. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b Turner-LE, Ben; Clay, Oliver (2021-06-10). "Live updates as protesters stage protest on factory roof". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Runcorn factory roof". BBC News. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Pro-Palestinian activists arrested over Runcorn factory protest". BBC News. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b Richardson, Andy; Perrin, Ben (2021-06-15). "Police at scene as protesters climb onto city factory roof". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ LazenbyWednesday, Peter (2021-06-16). "Police 'violently' arrest Palestine Action protesters at factory in Birmingham". Morning Star. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ a b LazenbyTuesday, Peter (2021-06-22). "Jailed activist who occupied roof of Grenfell cladding firm on hunger strike". Morning Star. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
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