Brits demand closure of Israeli arms factories in UK

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2023 12:59
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Palestine Action activists give Israeli arms factory UAV Tactical Systems a notice for closure.

Activists from UK-based Palestine Action occupied the Elbit Ferranti site in Oldham, Manchester, after scaling the roof, chaining the gates shut, and smearing red paint over the factory’s walls. (Twitter/Palestine Action)

Protests calling for the closure of Israeli arms factories have been held by British pro-Palestinian activists across the UK.

A 30-day eviction notice was issued by protesters opposing "Israel's" heinous crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people outside an Israeli arms factory in Leicester.

Israeli arms company UAV Tactical Systems, which is a subsidiary of the occupation's largest arms company Elbit Systems, and is located in Leicester, received a notice on Saturday from Palestine Action activists acting on behalf of The Court (of Public Opinion).

The group shared a video on its Twitter account that shows a piece of paper giving 30 days' notice before a site will be met by mass action on May 1st if it is not vacated, as groups and individuals from all over Britain come together to force the Israeli weapons factory to close.

The facility, which is jointly owned by France's Thales and Elbit Systems, produces drones for the British military that are based on Israeli Hermes drones, and also exports large quantities of weapons to "Israel."

The drones built by Elbit have been tested on the hostages of the besieged Gaza Strip behind closed doors. “Research shows their military drone equipment is exported to the colonizers of Palestine to murder, displace, and oppress people across the world,” Palestine Action explains on its website.

The group notes that Elbit supplies 85% of "Israel's" fleet of armed military drones.

Similar demonstrations with banners, flares, flags, and leaflets outlining the criminal acts of the occupation were held in Glasgow and Brighton. The activists claim that Palestine Action's "siege" will be the organization's first "open" action, publicly announced and open to anyone able and willing to oppose "Israel's" British drone manufacturing.

ADS Group, which represents and defends the largest arms manufacturers in the world and is heavily involved in the crimes against the Palestinians committed by the Israeli firm Elbit, was shut down by activists earlier last week.

The ADS Group's offices and operations—whose business it is to lobby for and promote organizations like Elbit Systems before the government and at arms shows—were closed down in London. Elbit Systems is the largest weapons manufacturer in "Israel."

Pro-Palestinian activists in the UK have repeatedly demonstrated their solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli crimes against humanity.

Palestine Action claimed that in 2022 their persistent efforts to raise objections against the weapons manufacturer had been successful in getting two of its locations—in London and Oldham—closed.