Why we occupied the roof of Elbit’s arms factory

A month today, Israel began its latest attack on Gaza. The war crimes Israel is committing - to which governments of the world turn a blind eye - have so far killed close to 1,900 Palestinians in four weeks.

That number continues to grow as the refugee population of Gaza dig the bodies of their friends and relatives out of the rubble of their homes, mosques, universities, hospitals and schools.

Even when the current massacre ends, Gaza will still be under an inhumane siege and its people imprisoned under an intolerable regime of collective punishment imposed by Israel.

The UK government has not only failed to take action to end these crimes against humanity but in fact it continues to provide material support to Israel’s brutal regime of occupation, apartheid and colonialism against Palestinians.

The UK is complicit not only because it continues to sell arms to Israel but also because it is importing technology developed during the course of Israeli massacres.

Though cracks in the government’s shameful stance are beginning to appear, the UK is still at present facilitating war crimes and prime minister David Cameron has blood on his hands.

The only course of action is a full and immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel and the closure of the Elbit Systems factory immediately.

We took took direct action because grassroots movements must act when governments allow and enable such atrocities.

In the early hours of 5 August a group of activists, including a number from the London Palestine Action network, occupied the roof of an Israeli weapons factory near Birmingham, UK, and refused to leave. The factory was shut down for two days.

We did this as part of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS) and in response to calls for action from Palestinian civil society.

Though we were arrested and charged, the real criminals are those who continue to support and arm the terrorist state of Israel.

Our solidarity action was in turn supported by people of conscience from the local area and from all over the world (including Amnesty, War on Want, Campaign Against Arms Trade) and whose common demand is the permanent closure of the factory and an end to all forms of military trade and cooperation with Israel.

The occupation of this factory was not about nine people on a roof but about what is being done right now to yet another generation of children in Gaza.

The occupation is over but the oppression and suffering of the Palestinians goes on. As long as it continues the solidarity movement must step up its action and ensure it is meaningful and effective.

As the initial statement pointed out: ‘Israel does not act alone but is supported by governments and corporations across the world that have names and addresses.’

More direct action targeting those who profit from Israeli apartheid is needed to lead to a genuine isolation of Israel and support the entire Palestinian people in their historic struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

Join the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement!

Stop arming Israel!

Victory to the Palestinian struggle!

*MORE ON ELBIT SYSTEMS*

The UAV Engines factory that the activists occupied is a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military company and the world’s largest producer of drones.

The factory manufactures engines for drones which are known to have been exported to Israel in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Elbit Systems drones are being used in Israel’s ongoing massacre.

Any attempt to claim that components manufactured at this factory are not being used in Israel’s current attack on Gaza is simply not credible.

The factory is also a fundamental part of the Watchkeeper program under which Elbit Systems is leading production of a new generation of drones for the UK military.

The Watchkeeper drone is modelled on the Hermes 450, documented as being used to kill Palestinian civilians during the 2008-09 attack on Gaza.

Elbit uses the murderous impact of these weapons for profit, marketing the drones as ‘field tested’ - in other words, proven to successfully slaughter Palestinians with nowhere to run.

Coverage in the media: