A LOBBYING firm has dumped Israeli-owned arms manufacturer Elbit Systems as a client after Palestine Action activists mounted protests and sprayed the lobbyist’s offices with red paint.

Apco Worldwide is based in the US and has offices in London.

On Tuesday September 3, three Palestine Action activists locked-on in front of the firm’s London offices after spraying the site in red paint.

Palestine Action said the action “sparked internal chaos for Apco, with staff raising complaints of Apco’s dealings with Elbit, and strong protests raised within the company’s offices in the Middle East.”

Palestine Action blockaded and spray-painted the offices again last week.

The campaign group said: “Following this action, Apco Worldwide disavowed Elbit Systems and described them as a ‘former client’ in an email to Palestine Action.

“Apco have cut ties with the firm which they had previously represented in the inner halls of Westminster and Whitehall.

“The Israel lobby can be defeated.”

It comes as Palestine Action said Barclays bank has sold all its shares in Elbit following its protests.

But Barclays said: “We are not making investments for Barclays and Barclays is not a ‘shareholder’ or ‘investor’ in Elbit Systems in that sense, and therefore cannot divest; it would be misleading to suggest otherwise.”