AhlulBayt News Agency: Palestine Action activists are questioning why Israel is interfering in the British legal process, as 18 of their members remain in custody, awaiting trial.
The group, known as the Felton 18, has been remanded in custody for over a year before facing trial. They are accused of breaking into the new Elbit Systems Research and Development base in Bristol.
It is alleged that they caused over £1 million worth of damage, including destruction of Israeli quadcopters reportedly used to lure Palestinians out of their homes in Gaza with recorded baby cries before attacking them.
Regardless of the verdict, many view these activists as heroes whose sacrifices will be remembered in history.
The central concern is whether Israel has been directly influencing the British legal system to create this situation.
A heavily redacted email obtained by Palestine Action through a Freedom of Information request revealed that the UK Attorney General’s office provided contact details for the police unit handling Palestine Action cases to the Israeli embassy.
In 2023, The Guardian also reported that the Israeli embassy was attempting to influence the Attorney General’s office concerning Palestine Action cases.
Israeli lobbying efforts to suppress Palestine Action have been ongoing for years. The earliest documented meeting took place on March 2, 2022, between Elbit Systems UK CEO Martin Fausset and then-Home Secretary Priti Patel.
During this meeting, Patel acknowledged that Palestine Action’s alleged criminal activities were matters for police investigation. Although she noted that the government could not directly interfere with police operations, officials had been in contact with law enforcement regarding Palestine Action.
Coincidentally, the first conviction of a Palestine Action activist occurred within the same month as this meeting, on March 29, 2022.
According to section 2.1 of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, prosecutors must be free to perform their duties without political influence and must not be subject to undue pressure from external sources.
Given this, supporters argue that all cases against Palestine Action should be dismissed, as they are taking place under improper political interference.
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