Israeli arms company Elbit forced to sell Tamworth site
socialistworker.co.uk
Elbit shutting down its site in Tamworth is a victory for direct action and the Palestine solidarity movement

DIRECT ACTION GETS THE GOODS.

  • Palestine Action said, “This victory is a direct result of sustained direct action which has sought to make it impossible for Elbit to afford to operate in Britain.

  • “Before they sold the enterprise to a private equity syndicate, Elbit had reported that Elite KL operating profits had been slashed by over three-quarters, with Palestine Action responsible. Elbit directly cited the increased expenditure on security they’d been forced to make, and higher supply chain costs they faced.

  • The first action at the site, in November 2020, saw activists smash into the building covered in blood-red paint.

  • Between March and July 2021, roof-top occupations put the site out of action three times. Despite increased security, another roof-top occupation in July saw the site closed.

  • In February 2022, activists decommissioned the site for weeks—closed off after an occupation that saw over £250,000 of damage.

  • After this, Elbit erected a security perimeter around the site. One month later, six people were arrested after occupying the roof and smashing through, preventing the production of parts for Israel’s military machine.

FURTHERMORE:

  • After the sale was completed last month, Elite KL’s new owners, listed as Griffin Newco Ltd, confirmed in an email to Palestine Action that they will have nothing to do with the previous owners, Elbit, and have discontinued any arms manufacturing:

  • “Following the recent acquisition of Elite KL Limited by a UK investment syndicate, the newly appointed board has unanimously agreed to withdraw from all future defence contracts and terminate its association with its former parent company”.

    • HumanBehaviorByBjork [any, undecided]
      ·
      7 months ago

      large scale long term physical confrontation has been effective in recent memory in the united states, albeit not without martyrs. See Standing Rock, Line 3, and the Atlanta Forest.

      sure it's important to remember that fighting back is dangerous, but it's more important to remember that we can still do it, and we can win. the struggle did not stop. the spectacle just became much better inoculated against it.