As Israel carried its brutal massacre of Palestinians in Gaza last summer, 9 activists from the London Palestine Action network occupied the roof and shut down an Israeli owned Elbit Systems arms factory in Staffordshire for two days.
Starting February 9, the trial of the 9 activists who carried out the action will take place in Newcastle Under Lyme.
We're pleading not guilty to charges of 'preventing lawful activity' on the grounds that there's nothing lawful about arming Israel.
Come and join us for a demonstration against the arms trade with Israel on the first morning of the trial!
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Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are sheltering in makeshift houses this winter, while they struggle to rebuild homes destroyed by Israel in its bombing campaign this summer. More than 2,000 Palestinians were killed in the vicious assault, including over 500 children. Tens of thousands were injured and countless numbers have been displaced, while grieving and traumatised.
Still, Palestinians struggle for their freedom. They need international solidarity while the siege, the occupation, the incremental genocide of ethnic cleansing and the daily humiliations continue.
In the UK, a protest that took place 5-7 August 2014, during Israel’s murderous bombardment, was one attempt to offer such solidarity. Nine protesters occupied the roof of UAV Engines, an arms factory making engines for drones, owned by Israeli arms manufacturers Elbit Systems. The protest shut the factory down for 2 days.
All protesters have been charged with ‘aggravated trespass’ and a date has now been set for the trial. It will start on Monday 9th February 2015 at 9.30am at Newcastle-under-Lyme magistrates’ court and is expected to last about 5 days.
However, we believe it is Britain’s arms trade with Israel which should be in the dock. We have all entered not guilty pleas and intend to use the trial to show that the activities of UAV Engines are unlawful as they are aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza. We therefore believe that we did not "prevent lawful activity" and that our actions were necessary to prevent a greater crime.
Our action was part of nationwide Stop Arming Israel campaigns calling for a two-way arms embargo, an issue we hope to keep on the political agenda and at the heart of the UK’s Palestine solidarity movement. Since our action, there have also been roof top occupations targeting the arms trade at Thales in Glasgow and Elbit in Melbourne, Australia. We have been shown a huge amount of solidarity from fellow Stop Arming Israel activists, for which we are incredibly grateful. If you are able to do more, you could:
• Show solidarity on Monday 9th February: at the court on the first day of the trial (for those in the Midlands, or willing to travel)
• Donate: if you are able to, please consider making a contribution towards the significant costs incurred as a result of the action, the subsequent legal action, and travel expenses to and from court hearings. Please send donations by Paypal to London Palestine Action at londonpalestineaction@gmai
• Take action: by supporting Stop Arming Israel and Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns
• Come to our fundraiser party - Drop the Bass, Fund the Case.
More details: https://www.facebook.com/
In solidarity.
#StopArmingIsrael #StopElbit #ElbitOnTrial