PALESTINE ACTION founders could face jail next month for taking direct action against Israeli-owned arms factories, the campaign group said today.

Eight protesters will appear in Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on charges connected with the direct action group’s campaign to shut down factories and offices of Elbit, an Israeli-owned international arms manufacturer, across Britain.

The actions include occupations of the firm’s factories and offices, the causing of damage, and threats to target firms associated with Elbit.

The trials are expected to begin on October 10 and last five weeks.

The defendants include Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard, who founded Palestine Action in July 2020.

In the two years since the group was established, groups of activists have also targeted companies associated with Elbit, including property firms providing premises for the company.

Elbit manufactures drones and pilot-less warplanes which are used by the Israeli military.

Charges against Ms Ammori and Mr Barnard include blackmail for warning a company associated with Elbit that it would be targeted if it did not end its involvement with the Israeli-owned firm.

Since Palestine Action was launched Elbit has shut down two of its operations which were hit by direct action – the Ferranti factory in Oldham in Greater Manchester and a headquarters office in London.

The Oldham campaign also involved supporters of Palestine Solidarity Campaign from Manchester and the Oldham Peace and Justice group.

Palestine Action said the prosecutions were “the single greatest attempt at the repression of a pro-Palestine organisation in the last decade.”

It said in a statement: “Political resistance is being met with the act of lawfare.

“Palestine Action will be fighting these highly politicised charges and seeking to turn the spotlight on Elbit and their many crimes, proving that Elbit is guilty and ought to be shut down everywhere.

“In two years of direct action, Palestine Action have severely disrupted the smooth functioning of a business built on bloodshed.

“For this, we are facing intense political repression.

“Let it be known that we stand as the accusers, not the accused, and we fully intend to expose Elbit’s many war crimes, the Israeli arms company’s role in 74 years of occupation and dispossession lived by the Palestinian people.

“Elbit is guilty, we are not.”