#  Direct Action Works: Elbit Have Left the Building

     Details    Abby Zimet   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         June 30 2022       [SAY WHAT?](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what)   - [  Previous Article **Was He Not Worthy of Humanity** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25003:was-he-not-worthy-of-humanity&catid=376)
- [  Next Article **Genuine Quackery, Frightful In Its Scope** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24940:genuine-quackery-frightful-in-its-scope&catid=376)

  ###### Typography

- [](# "Smaller Font")  ****Smaller** **Small** **Medium** **Big** **Bigger****  [](# "Bigger Font")
- [](# "Previous Font Style")  ****Default** **Helvetica** **Segoe** **Georgia** **Times****  [](# "Next Font Style")

- [ Reading Mode](# "Reading Mode")

> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
>
>  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2022/052z1.jpg)
>
> SAY WHAT? - Offering a glimmer of hope "the merchants of death are not invincible," Palestine Action has successfully, permanently [**shut down**](https://www.palestineaction.org/london-hq-shut/)[ ](https://www.palestineaction.org/london)the London headquarters of Israel's largest [**arms manufacturer ](https://whoprofits.org/company/elbit-systems/)Elbit Systems, with multiple sites in the U.K., after pummeling them with six actions in six weeks. Elbit makes 85% of Israel's drone fleet along with bullets, tear gas, surveillance equipment et al; the company likes to boast its weapons systems are "battle-tested on Palestinians." The London [**closure**](https://twitter.com/Pal_action/status/1538936690101846017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1538936690101846017%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecanary.co%2Ftrending%2F2022%2F06%2F21%2Fcampaign-of-direct-action-forces-an-israeli-drone-maker-to-close-its-london-office-permanently%2F) marks Palestine Action's second rout of a British Elbit site in less than two years, prompting the group's defiant new slogan[**"2 Down, 8 To Go." ](https://twitter.com/hashtag/2Down8toGo?src=hashtag_click)London's office was also the site of the group's [**inaugural action**](https://www.palestineaction.org/london-hq-shut/) in an 18-month campaign that used fiery direct action and civil disobedience - occupations, blockades, defacement, smoke flares, throwing fake blood, locking themselves together - to demand the U.K. end its [**complicity**](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2022/06/04/battle-tested-palestinians) with Israel's apartheid regime and [**\#ShutElbitDown**](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2022/06/27/direct-action-works-elbit-have-left-building#ShutElbitDown).

 Last week, after 15 actions against the London office, sister actions against its landlords and dozens of arrests, the group [**announced**](https://freedomnews.org.uk/2022/06/21/elbit-have-left-the-building-palestine-action-permanently-closes-down-the-companys-london-hq/) Elbit had "left the building," closing its posh office at 77 Kingsway. The move came just five months after Elbit also sold its large plant in Oldham, reportedly at a loss, after repeated protests there. In a mark of the success of Palestine Action and other BDS groups, Israel champion and U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel has [**proposed**](https://electronicintifada.net/content/has-britain-drafted-law-protect-israels-weapons-makers/35746) a National Security Bill that would stymie pro-Palestinian efforts - or "hostile state activity" - by giving protected status to companies making "aircraft (equipment) used for military purposes." Clearly undeterred, Palestine Action continues to target Elbit's eight remaining sites. Most recently, they returned to an Elbit subsidiary in Shenstone making drone engines to [**scale**](https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2022/06/22/campaigners-stage-new-rooftop-protest-at-shenstone-factory/) the roof, [**occupy**](https://www.palestineaction.org/occupy-shenstone/) the building, dismantle the equipment and declare, "If you aid war criminals, you are war criminals." Their message there, as in London and Oldham: "We've proven direction action works. Maybe (Elbit) should have a think - we are not going away."

*(*[***Abby Zimet***](https://www.commondreams.org/author/abby-zimet) *has written CD's* [***Further***](https://www.commondreams.org/further) *column since 2008. A longtime, award-winning journalist, involved in women's, labor, anti-war, social justice and refugee rights issues. Email:* [*azimet18@gmail.com*](mailto:azimet18@gmail.com)*.)*

  - [  Previous Article **Was He Not Worthy of Humanity** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25003:was-he-not-worthy-of-humanity&catid=376)
- [  Next Article **Genuine Quackery, Frightful In Its Scope** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24940:genuine-quackery-frightful-in-its-scope&catid=376)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>