[News] Palestine Action Underground Launches On Third Anniversary

[Anti-Imperialist News]

popularresistance.org
<https://popularresistance.org/palestine-action-underground-launches-to-celebrate-three-years-of-action/>
Palestine Action Underground Launches On Third Anniversary
By Palestine Action - August 5, 2023
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Another year of Palestine Action; three years of sustained and effective
direct action against Elbit Systems. Three years of mobilising and enabling
the masses to strike back and refuse passivity. Three years of radical
action and engaging collective power. Three years of unstoppable momentum,
victories and, as a direct result, increased attempts by the state to quash
the movement.

This time, last year, our second anniversary report [1] was buzzing over
the two Elbit closures, announced in quick succession at the start of 2022.
We’re still incredibly proud of the victories at Oldham and Kingsway. They
have not lost their zest because they represent, particularly in Oldham,
the successful nurturing and building of community.

The support and actions of those who join the resistance are the reason
we’ve been able to continuing smashing the status quo for three consecutive
years. We want to raise a heartfelt fist of solidarity and power to all the
comrades who’ve taken action, as well as the many donors, supporters and
legal aids who have ensued we are not alone in the fight.

The most noteworthy update to our second-year recap is the cancellation of
contracts between the British Ministry of Defence and Elbit Systems, due to
the former’s concerns over the latter’s ‘operational sovereignty’. [2] This
multi-million pound blow to Elbit is without doubt the biggest return on
investment for anyone who has donated money, time and / or energy to
Palestine Action. The cracks in Elbit’s warehouse windows do not simply
represent cosmetic damage but also symbolise the crumbling foundations of
Elbit’s relationship with the British State’s so-called defence interests.
Turning the tide

The four people currently detained, and the 100+ others facing prison time,
signify the dedication of the people to this cause, despite risking arrest,
prison time and other curtailments of freedom. This evident commitment and
unstoppable momentum are not the ‘words of condemnation’ or ‘vague
promises’ most often heard when it comes to action in support of Palestine.
Our actions represent a tangible threat to the corrupt British-Israeli
relationship, forged over Palestinian bloodshed and war-crime profiteering.
Our successful severing of the links that comprise the chain of complicity
connecting the British and Israeli states, have led the Crown Prosecution
Service to enact increasingly repressive measures.

But, as one acquitted activist explained after our first Crown Court
victory, which saw a unanimous not-guilty verdict, “the UK government’s
attempt to deter pro-Palestine activists by dragging us through the courts
has backfired. It has instead boosted our morale and shown us that
randomly-selected members of the public are appalled by Israel’s treatment
of Palestinians and that they disagree with Elbit Systems being allowed to
operate in the UK. Critically, we have seen that pro-Palestine activism has
public support and just how out of touch the government is with public
sentiment. While there are many problems with trial by jury, in this
instance it felt like democracy in practice” [3].

In addition to turning the tide of public opinion, we’ve also garnered
international support and solidarity from various groups and organisations,
including the Palestinian Prisoners’ Movement. On Sunday 11th June, 2023,
the collective of imprisoned Palestinians released a public statement
standing with the political prisoners: “we express our sincere appreciation
for the efforts made by the Palestine Action movement, which led to the
closure of several sites belonging to Elbit Systems, which specialises in
producing drones and weaponry supplied to the fascist Zionist occupation.”
[4]

Further, on July 22nd, 2023, an International Day of Solidarity with the
political prisoners and arrestees of Palestine Action was held across and
outside the U.K. Banners, protests and solidarity stands sprung up from
Manchester to Canada in support of the detainees and against the British
government’s siding with Zionism and apartheid. [5]
What’s next?

As we type, our disruptive siege continues into its fourth month, at
Elbit’s Leicester subsidiary, UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) [6]. This
tactic of besiegement builds on our direct-action camp, which was sustained
around the clock at UAV Engines in Shenstone, during the summer of 2022
[7]. In both instances, the British police stepped in to disperse,
dismantle and wreck the campsites and gatherings of solidarity, in what
were irrefutable demonstrations of British police force enacting the
Zionist’s fascist agenda on British soil.

While our iconic red boiler suits and paint continue to colour the
collective consciousness and headlines, people may be surprised to know
that Palestine Action’s covert missions are actually more numerous than the
highly publicised actions. Dedication takes on many guises. Moving forward,
Elbit Systems and their associates – that is, any business found to be
collaborating with Elbit via their research, technology, consultation,
labour, components, or any other service – will continue to be targeted in
surprising and innovative ways. Actions of this nature will comprise
Palestine Action Underground; the covert chapter of our movement. Not only
is the movement growing under the red umbrella held by Palestine Action,
it’s also being fostered by groups across Europe, from Athens to Brussels
and Toulouse, by organisations and individuals determined to ignite and
spread the appetite for resistance to state complicity with the Israeli
regime. With this in mind, Palestine Action Underground will be releasing
information on new targets, from Monday 7th August. This crucial
information will not only further expose the depths of collaboration and
complicity identifiable in British businesses, it will also serve to inform
budding actionists so they can branch out and serve the movement to
#ShutElbitDown. But, that’s not all. Palestine Action Underground will also
be releasing a guide to taking action, to further empower and encourage
conscionable humans, across Britain and beyond. Stay tuned…

As we move into the second half of 2023, past our third year and look
towards our fourth, Palestine Action remains steadfast in our goal to
#ShutElbitDown.
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