Protesters block the gates to the Elbit Ferranti factory in Oldham, the UK<\/p>\n
A UK subsidiary of the Israeli arms company, Elbit Systems, has been forced to sell a factory in Oldham Town following sustained pro-Palestine protests.<\/strong><\/p>\n Elbit Systems UK announced on Monday that it had sold the Power and Control Business of its subsidiary Ferranti Technologies Ltd to TT Electronics, a British electronics firm, for $12 million in cash as part of a \u201crestructuring\u201d process of its British operations.<\/p>\n The Palestinian\u00a0activists described the decision as \u201ca huge victory\u201d for them.<\/p>\n Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network said the “victory speaks to the successful nature of strong direct action to impose a meaningful and material cost upon the profiteers of the colonization of Palestine and Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people.”<\/p>\n “Palestine Action has pledged to continue and escalate the actions to #ShutElbitDown, and this victory can and must inspire people around the world to intensify our actions to boycott Israel and shut down the merchants of death marketing weaponry \u201cbattle-tested\u201d on Palestinians,” it said.<\/p>\n This is amazing news!!! Direct action works! Well some @Pal_action<\/a> for your incredible work and courage in shutting down part of the murderous war machine. These weapons are \u201ctested\u201d on Palestinian children\u2026#Oldham<\/a> #ShutElbitDown<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/PxYEvJ6c4B<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LEGAL EDUCATION IS FASCIST (@TheLawIsFascist) January 10, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n Ferranti P&C is a manufacturer of specialist military products and technology for drones supplied to the Israeli army.<\/p>\n The sale\u00a0of the majority of\u00a0Ferranti business came as the factory was rocked by weekly protests, organized by the Oldham Peace and Justice group and backed by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.<\/p>\n The Ferranti products are used by the Israeli military against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n The protesters had blockaded and occupied the site several times, forcing the closure of the factory for several weeks.<\/p>\n Occupations by the direct-action campaign of the Palestine Action costed millions in damages to the company.<\/p>\n \u201cThe brave individuals who occupied the factory over the past year can proudly say that drone technologies are no longer in production in Oldham,\u201d a spokesperson for the Palestine Action said on Monday.<\/p>\n Israel’s weapons were made in #Oldham<\/a>, but not anymore as we #ShutElbitDown<\/a> for good! This is a victory for #Palestine<\/a>, #Kashmir<\/a>, and all those who suffer so Israel’s arms trade can profit. pic.twitter.com\/je21cm6bE3<\/a><\/p>\n