Activists successfully pressure Fisher German to drop Elbit Systems
3 Min Read
The property manager for Elbit Systems’ Shenstone drone factory, Fisher German, cuts ties with the Israeli weapons manufacturer after a series of direct actions carried out by Palestine Action.
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Palestine Action targets Fisher German in Birmingham on July 04, 2022. (Palestine Action via VX pictures)
Fisher German (FG), the property manager for Elbit Systems’ Shenstone drone factory, has cut ties with the Israeli occupation's arms manufacturer according to Palestine Action, which announced having received an email confirmation from FG.
This comes after iO Associates, Elbit's former recruiters, decided to drop the largest Israeli weapons manufacturer following a series of campaigns carried out by the direct action network.
The real estate conglomerate acknowledged that it no longer had any links to Elbit Systems or the Shenstone headquarters of its subsidiary, UAV Engines Ltd (UEL). It is worth noting that UEL designs and manufactures drone engines, which it describes as "engines for various size tactical UAVs, target drones, and single mission platforms."
This is significant because the plant is an important Elbit subsidiary that manufactures the engine for the Hermes 450 surveillance drone that has been modified to carry missiles.
Co-founder of #Palestine Action US, Calla Walsh, discusses the importance of the activities of the movement alongside the peaceful protests taking place in the West, despite the risks activists might face as a result.#Gaza #GazaGenocide @Pal_ActionUS @CallaWalsh pic.twitter.com/uqHzTaH12x
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 8, 2023
Partners in genocide
FG was designated a target by Palestine Action for its complicity in the ongoing genocide being carried out by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, FG also facilitated the Israeli weapon trade business in the UK and thus became a target of the direct action network a couple of years before the 2023 war on the Gaza Strip.
Palestine Action has repeatedly targeted Fisher German as part of a campaign against companies involved in Elbit's blood-stained business.
The real estate firm was first attacked in 2021, when someone took over the roof of their Harborne, Birmingham, headquarters (Vine Property Management), and covered the site in paint.
"Until Palestine is free, none of us is free."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 6, 2023
Co-founder of #Palestine Action US, Calla Walsh, discusses the importance of the Palestinian cause not only for Palestinians but for the whole world.@Pal_ActionUS @CallaWalsh #PalestineGenocide #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/LgKc1rXZsQ
Activists protest outside arms suppliers to 'Israel' across Europe
Earlier this month, activists blockaded and protested in front of weapons manufacturers and suppliers to "Israel" across Europe.
These include Exxelia (Paris, France), TERMA Group (Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark; Leiden, The Netherlands), and UAV Engines (Shenstone, UK).
A military component manufactured by Exxelia enabled Israeli forces to precisely guide a missile to strike the roof of the Shuheibar family home on July 17, 2014, killing three children and seriously injuring two further children, according to the Workers in Palestine group.
The group added that gun pods manufactured by TERMA Group enable the occupation to mount excessive amounts of explosives to the otherwise small and agile F-35s, citing a report in the Danish media that 75 children were killed in Gaza in May 2021 and August 2022 by fighter jets carrying parts from TERMA Group.
Eaton Mission Systems in Bournemouth, BAE Systems at Samlesbury Aerodrome in Lancashire, L3Harris factory in Brighton and Hove, and BAE Govan in Glasgow are the four manufacturing facilities currently producing F-35 stealth combat aircraft utilized by "Israel" in its war in Gaza.
In recent protests in the UK, demonstrators have targeted the facilities in support of Palestine.
Read more: Pro-Palestine protesters force closure of UK arms factories
