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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/12/four-arms-factories-across-the-uk-blockaded-in-solidarity-with-palestine">tribunemag.co.uk</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Four Arms Factories Across the UK Blockaded in Solidarity with Palestine</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">By
Taj Ali</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">December 7, 2023<br></div>
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<img src="cid:ii_lpvigx6v0" alt="C0001T01.jpg" width="427" height="240"><br><p><span>Over 1,000 workers have simultaneously
blocked four arms factories across the UK which provide components for
arms used by Israel in its bombardment of Gaza.</span></p>
<p><span>The workers, under the banner ‘Workers for a Free Palestine’,
include teachers, health workers, hospitality workers and others who are
members of a wide range of trade unions, including Unite, UNISON, GMB,
NEU, BMA, UCU, BECTU and BFAWU.</span></p>
<p><span>The blockades have been organised in coordination with workers
in France, Denmark and the Netherlands, who are also blockading arms
factories today.</span></p>
<p><span>Today’s action is the third organised by Workers for a Free
Palestine. On 26 October, over 150 trade unionists under the banner
‘Workers for a Free Palestine’ picketed an Instro Precision factory (a
subsidiary of Elbit Systems) in Kent. On 10 November, Workers for a Free
Palestine targeted BAE Systems in Rochester, with over 400 trade
unionists taking part in the blockade.</span></p>
<p><span>The UK has continued to sell arms to Israel despite its illegal
occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East
Jerusalem since 1967</span></p>
<p><span>Jenny, a trade unionist from Workers for a Free Palestine,
said, ‘British-made bombs are again raining down on Palestinian people
across Gaza, who are being imprisoned in a death trap and ordered to
evacuate when they have nowhere safe to go.’</span></p>
<p><span>One of the most significant UK arms exports to Israel is
Britain’s contribution to the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, the world’s
most advanced fighter jet, currently being used by Israel to bombard
Gaza. The F-35 is built by Lockheed Martin in the US, with Lockheed
Martin saying, ‘the fingerprints of British ingenuity can be found on
dozens of the aircraft’</span><span>s key components.’</span></p>
<p><span>The UK’s leading military goods manufacturer, BAE Systems, has produced components for 13-15 percent of Israel’s F35 orders. </span><span>Over
16,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October. Both
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer still refuse calls to back a permanent
ceasefire after intense bombardment resumed this week. </span></p>
<p><span>Mesh, a doctor speaking on behalf of Health Workers for a Free
Palestine, which is taking part in the blockades, said: ‘As healthcare
workers, we are tired of mourning the deaths of our colleagues — fellow
nurses, doctors, dentists, medical students and other health workers —
along with all of the Palestinians massacred by the Israeli regime. We
stand here ashamed that the weapons used in the ongoing ethnic cleansing
of Palestine are partly made on our own doorstep.’</span></p>
<p><span>‘Our government could only bring itself to advocate for a
temporary pause in these atrocities. Israel has now resumed its
violence: turning hospitals into graveyards, using equipment
manufactured in this very factory. As health workers, we have a moral
responsibility to act and we will not rest until the occupation ends. We
cannot simply worry about the disease when the root cause is clear.
Just as smoking causes lung cancer, so the Israeli occupation of
Palestine causes untold death and destruction in the region.’</span></p>
<p><span>Over 600 workers are blockading Eaton Mission Systems in
Bournemouth, registered as Mission Systems Wimborne Ltd. Eaton Mission
Systems has an open export licence to export goods for the F-35
aircraft.</span></p>
<p><span>Workers have also blockaded BAE Systems at Samlesbury Aerodrome
in Lancashire. The rear fuselage of every F-35 fighter jet is made at
the site. This year BAE Systems Samlesbury delivered its 1000th real
fuselage for the ongoing F-35 programme.</span></p>
<p><span>Brighton & Hove Action for Palestine are targeting the
‘L3Harris Release & Integrated Solutions Ltd’ factory based in
Brighton & Hove. The factory equips US-supplied F-16s and F-35s
being used by the IDF in the current bombardment of Gaza.</span></p>
<p><span>And BAE Govan has been shut down by Glasgow residents. BAE
Systems produces components of the F35 aircraft and the Mk 38 Mod 2
machine gun system.</span></p>
<p><span>Responding to the blockades, Workers in Palestine, a coalition
of Palestinian trade unions which is calling for industrial action and
civil disobedience to halt the arms trade with Israel, issued the
following statement: ‘We salute all those in the trade union movement
taking a stand to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel. Shutting down four
factories across the UK today, along with several simultaneous
blockades in Europe, are critical acts of solidarity, refusing to
conduct business as usual in the face of Israel’s relentless bombardment
of Gaza and ongoing genocide. As the British government refuses to call
for a ceasefire and directly supports Israel’s military attack, a
rapidly growing movement of workers are clearly saying “not in our
name”.’</span></p>
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