UK abuses terrorism laws to suppress pro-Palestine movements
As the Israeli genocide against the people of Palestine continues, several groups and individuals have taken direct action against the Israeli war machine in the UK.
In August 2024, for example, dozens of activists from Palestine Action stormed the Bristol-based plant belonging to Elbit Systems, the largest weapons manufacturer in Israel, causing an estimated 1 million pounds worth of damage and reportedly resulting in major disruption to some of the most sensitive elements of the factory for months to come.
In total, 21 people have since been arrested in relation to the factory raid, many of them under draconian UK anti-terrorism laws, sparking condemnation from human rights groups and observers across the world.
As a result, the pro-Palestinian groups have held a meeting, under heavy security, in the western English city of Bristol to discuss the British government's legal warfare strategy.
Campaigners argue that the British government's use of anti-terrorism legislation is not only intended to punish those disrupting the Israeli war machine, but also to discourage others from taking action against Israeli companies like Elbit Systems and others drenched in Palestinian and Lebanese blood.
Professor David Miller is one of the foremost anti-Zionist academics in the UK. He's been targeted by pro Israel lobby groups that led to his dismissal from the University of Bristol, an injustice, he successfully challenged in court.
They're trying to use any means that they can to attack the pro-Palestine movement. They're using hate crime legislation, and they're starting to use terrorism legislation.
Yes, criminal damage, but they're also using the terrorism legislation against journalists and saying that some journalists have been supporting proscribed organizations, which is plainly ridiculous, but they're using the terrorism legislation, the Terrorism Act of 2000 and the Terrorism Act of 2006, in order to suppress the Palestine movement.
They can't find any other way of doing it, but they are using legislation which is plainly inappropriate.
David Miller, Academic
According to Professor Miller, the pro-Palestine movement is growing in the UK, and attempts to crush them will not be successful.
It’s an intimidation tactic. What they're hoping to do is to convict some people under the Terrorism Act and say, Look, this is what awaits you. If you take up a placard, a slogan, if you try and invade an arms factory, you will be put into jail.
And they want to destroy the pro-Palestine movement, and of course, they're not going to succeed.
The outrage about the genocide is far too deeply entrenched in the UK, amongst public opinion.
Most young people in this country now believe that Israel has no right to exist, and that's a complete sea change from a year ago.
David Miller, Academic
Britain's culpability in the historic and ongoing crimes of the Israeli regime means that many among the UK public feel duty bound to continue disrupting and struggling against the Israeli killing machines tentacles in Britain and beyond.
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