Three activists charged after protest at factory linked to Israeli firm
Palestine Action demonstrators chained the gates of UAV Engines, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, and daubed the building with red paint
Three people have were arrested and charged this week after a protest to close a factory in Staffordshire that produces Israeli drones.
Members of Palestine Action chained the factory gates of UAV Engines, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, then chained themselves to the site after painting the building red.
The action, which prevented staff from entering, was the group’s third protest targeting Elbit’s UK operations since September.
Sarah Louise Wilkinson, 57, of Market Square, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, was due to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Tuesday morning, Michael Smithers, 37, of Vernon Road, Ilford, Essex, and Emily Harriet Arnott, 27, of Fairfax Road, London, are due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 17 February.
Elbit is Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer. This month it won a £120 million Royal Navy contract. It already supplies drones to the British Army.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
