Police in Melbourne arrested seven pro-Palestinian protesters who stormed the roof of an Israel-based company, accusing it of supporting genocide. The protesters, from the Melbourne Palestine Action Group, surrounded the factory belonging to Elbit Systems Friday morning, chanting “Elbit, Elbit you can’t hide, you are supporting genocide.” Elbit Systems of Australia manufacture defense equipment, including the drones used by the Israel Defense Forces during its war in Gaza. The company also manufactures defense equipment for the Australian army.
The protesters occupied the roof around 5 a.m., and were arrested around 10 a.m., according to police. They were released with a court summons for trespassing. A spokeswoman for the group, Sam Castro, said the group would continue to target Elbit. “This draws attention to the fact the Australian government has complicity in the killing of children in Gaza by allowing a war profiteer to operate in our city,” she was quoted as saying in the Guardian Australia. Jacob Grech, one of the activists who took part in the protest, added: “Melbourne is one of the most liveable cities in the world and we believe that most Melbournians would be shocked to learn that a company operating drones that kill women and children in hospitals and schools is operating in here in the leafy suburb of Port Melbourne.”
Police look on as protesters occupy the roof of an Elbit owned factory in Birmingham (Photo: London Palestine Action)
Last week, a group of activists from the London Palestine Action network chained the doors and shut another Elbit Israeli weapons factory based near Birmingham in the UK and occupied the roof. The factory produces engines for drones and is owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military company and the world’s largest drones producer. Drone engines manufactured at this factory have been exported to Israel in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and Elbit Systems drones are being used in Israel’s Gaza massacre. Drones are a key part of Israel’s military arsenal. According to activists, by allowing this factory to export drone components and other arms to Israel, the UK government is providing direct support and approval to Israel’s massacres.
The factory is also a key part of the Watchkeeper program under which Elbit Systems is leading the manufacture of a new generation of drones for the UK military. The Watchkeeper drone is based on the Hermes 450, documented as being used to kill Palestinian civilians during the 2008-09 attack on Gaza. Elbit Systems markets its drones as “field tested” – by which it means that their drones have been proven to be effective at killing Palestinians. The UK government is importing technology that has been developed during the course of Israeli massacres.
