Ten British NGOs have issued Tuesday a joint statement of solidarity with Palestine Action which is threatened with a banning order. A statement by the NGOs said that Palestine Action stands at the cutting edge of the pro Palestine movement in Britain. It added that for the last four years they have been taking effective direct action against Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer. The group has been successful in closing down several Elbit Systems factories, and forced 10 large businesses to cut ties with the weapons manufacturer. The police recently reported that Palestine Action has cost Elbit tens of millions of pounds in losses in the last year alone.
According to the NGOs “Every which disrupts the supply chain of weapons being used in the ongoing genocide is the moral thing to do and worthy of support. Direct action has never been more necessary. “
The statement further read, “As the genocide has intensified, Palestine Action has also escalated its actions and they have come under frequent attack from the Zionist lobby. Documents have exposed how Elbit Systems and the Israeli government have pressured the police, CPS, Attorney General’s office and government ministers to crack down on the group and made demands to have it banned. The authoritarian infrastructure of counter terrorism powers built over the last two decades, through exploiting fears and prejudices against mainly Muslims, has become a key tool to achieve these aims.
Following a series of hung juries and acquittals for Palestine Action actionists, there is now evidence emerging of steps being taken to prevent juries acquitting on account of their conscience. To date, Palestine Action has 16 political prisoners in Britain, 11 of which have not yet faced trial. Actionists have been subjected to regular dawn raids, police harassment, stops at the airport and smear campaigns.
Yet, despite the obstacles, Palestine Action continues to put their liberty on the line for the liberation of Palestine.
We stand in full solidarity with Palestine Action and call on all people of conscience to show their support for the group. We are all Palestine Action.”
Signatories:
- CAGE International
- Black Lives Matter UK
- Sisters uncut
- Palestine Youth Movement
- Parents for Palestine
- ELSC
- Axe Drax
- Defend Our Juries
- Free Political Prisoners
- Just Stop Oil
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