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Barclays blockaded over arms trade shares

Smashy | 19.12.2014 13:14 | Smash EDO | Anti-militarism | Iraq | Palestine | South Coast | World

Today Smash EDO and Brighton Palestine Action blockaded Barclays Bank for an hour before activists were removed. The action was part of a campaign aimed at forcing the bank to have nothing to do with shares in Elbit Systems, Exelis (EDO MBM's parent company), BAE, Raytheon and other arms companies. It comes a month after a nationwide day of action saw occupations of Barclays in cities across the UK

One person was arrested, who had glued himself to the front doors of the bank. He was dressed as Santa wearing a placard which read 'Santa says you've been a very naughty bank this year'.

Here's the initial press report from the Argus  http://m.theargus.co.uk/news/11678702.Santa_arrested_after_gluing_himself_to_doors_of_Barclays_Bank/





PRESS RELEASE FROM SMASH-EDO & BRIGHTON PALESTINE ACTIONFRIDAY 19th DECEMBER 2014

At 8.30am on Friday 19th December protesters locked and glued themselves to the main entrances of Brighton’s largest branch of Barclays Bank on North Street in protest at Barclays continuing financial support for Israeli arms company Elbit Systems Ltd. Supporters held banners and handed leaflets to the passing public.

As of 30thSeptember 2014 Barclays PLC held 50,000 shares in Elbit Sytems Ltd., an Israeli arms company that manufactures and supplies drones (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs) to the Israeli military. Those shares are currently valued at $2.8 million ( http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/eslt/institutional-holdings)

The shares are held in the name of Barclays Stock Brokers on behalf of clients. Barclays earn commission from buying & selling Elbit shares on behalf of those clients, as well as trading in Elbit shares for the purpose of hedging.

Drone strikes carried out more than 800 major strikes as part of Israel’s summer massacre in Gaza which killed 2,195 Palestinians, including some 500 children. Entire neighbourhoods were destroyed and mosques, market places, UN relief compounds and schools were deliberately targeted. Armed drones killed more than 1,100 Palestinians in Gaza between 2000 and 2010.

Elbit advertises its products as “combat proven”, in effect they are field-tested on the besieged civilian population of Gaza. Elbit’s share price rose in July off the back of the extensive use of its technology during Israel’s massacre, and the company recently reported a backlog in orders worth $6.2 billion.

Barclays holds shares in Exelis,, who own Brighton’s EDO MBM factory. Barclays also holds 4.2% of the shares in BAE Systems, which has provided F16 components and other arms to Israel, and more than $42 million worth of shares in Raytheon, a firm which manufactures guided bomb units used by the Israeli air force.

“Barclays is profiting directly from Israel’s massacres in Gaza” said Tom Anderson a researcher for Corporate Watch, who travelled to Gaza last year to investigate Israel’s drone attacks. “Barclays is knowingly profiting from the arms trade with Israel and all that it entails when so many other European banks and investors have entirely blacklisted Elbit, and other arms companies that supply Israel”.

In 2010 Germany’s largest bank, Deutsche Bank, divested all its holdings in Elbit. The Norwegian State pension fund, as well as two of the largest Danish pension funds have all divested their funds.  http://www.banktrack.org/show/news/deutsche_bank_announces_divestment_from_elbit

 http://electronicintifada.net/content/scandinavian-financial-institutions-drop-elbit-due-bds-pressure/8685


In August an Elbit Systems factory in Staffordshire (UAV Engines), that sells drone engine components to Israel was occupied by Palestine Solidarity protesters. The nine arrestees are pleading not guilty on the grounds that the activities of the factory are unlawful.  http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/protesters-chain-shenstone-factory-doors-7563636

In September six members of Glasgow Palestine Action were arrested after a rooftop protest at Thales UK factory in Glasgow because of Thales’ relationship with Elbit.  http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/six-arrested-over-pro-palestian-protest-at-glasgow-based-weapons-firm.1411500724

In October Palestinian students in Gaza called on the international community to join the boycott of Barclays.  http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/palestinian-students-call-for-barclays-boycott-over-elbit-12719

More than 1.7m people have signed an Avaaz petition calling on Barclays (amongst other companies) to divest their financial investments in Israeli companies and projects.  https://secure.avaaz.org/en/israel_palestine_this_is_how_it_ends_loc/

Notes

1.Background info on Barclays and Elbit:

 http://electronicintifada.net/content/barclays-boycotted-over-israel-arms-trade-shares/14056

2. For information on Elbit’s role in Israel’s occupation:  http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?q=company-profiles/elbit

 https://wedivest.org/c/53/elbit

- See more at:  http://smashedo.org.uk/1930#sthash.6UQRKXE9.dpuf

Smashy
- e-mail: smashedo@riseup.net
- Homepage: www.smashedo.org.uk

Comments

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Well done.

19.12.2014 14:23

Good action guys.

@

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Smash EDO

19.12.2014 17:04

Is Smash EDO still banning Jewish members to keep the Palestinian supporters (and their money) on board ?

Curious

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On a troll

19.12.2014 17:44


A ban on Jewish people to curry favour with the (absolutley minted ) Palestinians? Pull the other one - it's got sleigh bells on.

Simon Cobbs

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ban did happen

20.12.2014 08:42

In 2013 three jewish supporters were asked to leave Smash EDO after people from the Palestian Society at Brighton University became involved in the group. They said they found the presense of jewish people "unpleasant"

sara

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so what

20.12.2014 11:18

They are unpleasant. They have killed thousands of Palestinians. It's no wonder they are disliked

realist

Solidarity from Edinburgh

21.12.2014 05:52

Solidarity from Edinburgh. We have had some demonstrations outside Barclays branches recently. Here is a photo report of a demo on Saturday 29th November 2014 with 12 photos.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/world/2014/12/518918.html


Paul O'Hanlon
mail e-mail: o_hanlon@hotmail.com

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Clarification

22.12.2014 07:40

Although it is correct to say that three previous supporters of Smash EDO are now no longer involved with the campaign it is not correct to say they were asked to leave only because they were Jewish. In addition to the religious beliefs, one of them had relatives in Israel who were serving in the Israeli occupation forces and it was felt this made his membership of Smash EDO problematical.

The involvement of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign from Brighton University has been a major boost to the finances of Smash EDO which was close to collapse until their support. The Brighton PSC has always made clear its view regarding the involvement of Jewish people in its campaigns and the offence they cause to many who have seen first hand the killing machine of the Israeli state.

M
mail e-mail: smashedo@riseup.net
- Homepage: www.smashedo.org.uk

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Targets, need to do more.

23.12.2014 09:13

I can't hope noticing the change in emphasis of SmashEDO since the involvement and financial backing from the extremist Brighton University Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

What was once a group focused on the arms trade and the involvement of EDO (now Exelis) in that has now become yet one more group focused almost entirely on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and that is a pity. The fighn against the arms trade is more than just around the events in that one small region, the arms industry sells to all manner of distasteful regimes and groups and yet now these are overlooked as action after action from Smash EDO concentrates on Israel. With the news this week that equipment manufactured by Heckler and Koch from Nottingham has been sold to IS militants in Syria by a Jordanian middle man I would have thought that was at least worthy of some action or comment.

I assume the fact that EDO has not supplied any equipment to the Israeli forces for at least five years is something that people like to ignore.

MDN

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Hiding ?

24.12.2014 13:31

O look somebody asks difficult questions about the kind of campaign SmashEDO has become and it treatment and those comments are hidden.

The truth is the truth however.

Still asking questions

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Answers

24.12.2014 15:14

The take over of Smash EDO by Brighton University Palestinian Solidarity Campaign has resulted in the organisation being an extension of the BUPS with all that means for the antisemitism that has besmirched that organisation for years. Smash EDO is no longer worthy of support.

Steve

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Solidarity ?

30.12.2014 15:51

Solidarity with the action or the organisation ?

The action - yes
SmashEDO - A now openly antisemiticc group that was happy to exclude three supporters simply because they were jewish.

Solly

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@solly

31.12.2014 08:47

Who really cares if three Yids got thrown out ? I'm sick of hearing all this bleating about them

Smash EDO needed money to continue its vital work and now its got that money. That is what is important not the hard feelings of three individuals with possible links to Israel !

Smasher

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@ Smasher

31.12.2014 16:44

"Smash EDO needed money to continue its vital work and now its got that money. That is what is important not the hard feelings of three individuals with possible links to Israel!"

Ah, right, so the truth is out! Everyone has their price, and principles and ethics mean nothing, even for an organization such as Smash EDO.

Arms Dealer

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Solidarity ?

02.01.2015 08:49

Solidarity with the action or the organisation ?

The action - Yes
SmashEDO - No
A now openly antisemitic group that was happy to exclude three supporters simply because they were jewish.

Solly

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@solly

02.01.2015 19:02


Who really cares if three Yids got thrown out ? I'm sick of hearing all this bleating about them

Smash EDO needed money to continue its vital work and now its got that money. That is what is important not the hard feelings of three jewboys with possible links to Israel !

Smasher

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Why it matters

03.01.2015 07:53

Smashy, the reason it matters is because Israeli and Jewish is not the same thing. When SmashEDO excluded the three British Jewish members because they were Jewish it was wrong, offensive and to many of us the straw that broke the camel's back when it comes to supporting the campaign. The fact that they did it so that a recognised antisemitic group would give them money makes it all the more wrong.

I suggest you take the time to do some reading on both the history of Israel and the Jewish faith because you have some major personal ussues you need to deal with.

Leon

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