MORE than 40 Israeli arms companies are among the world’s worst arms dealers who will be setting up shop at the London arms fair on Tuesday, with peace campaigners telling them they are “not welcome.”

The annual Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair is taking place at the ExCel centre in the capital until Friday, with more than 2,800 defence and security suppliers such as BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Thales setting up shop to exhibit their war machines.

Companies at the fair will be courting deals with representatives from human rights-abusing regimes, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Qatar, and Israel.

Campaigners argue that the deals done at DSEI lead to death and devastation across the world.

Among the companies will be Elbit Systems, which battle tests their weapons on Palestinian civilians and exports technology to countries like Myanmar, as well as other Israeli companies.

The United Nations described the situation in Myanmar as genocidal in 2017, after 700,000 Rohingya were forced to flee to Bangladesh.

Protests kicked off last week to stop the fair from setting up, with at least 12 people arrested for taking part in the actions.

Stop the Arms Fair (STAF) is co-ordinating a fortnight of action, with groups organising events to highlight the different areas and communities that the fair impacts.

Arms dealers will be greeted by a memorial ceremony for their victims organised by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU).

Members of the PPU will read out the names of 100 recent victims of war from around the world before laying a wreath of white poppies at the fair’s entrance at 8am – just as company and government representatives arrive.

Some of the victims on the list were almost certainly killed by weapons made by companies attending the DSEI arms fair, the PPU said.

A protest marking “Migrant Justice Day,” co-ordinated by Newham Anti-Raids, will also take place.

Campaign Against Arms Trade’s Emily Apple called DSEI a “marketplace in death and destruction,” adding: “The companies exhibiting read as a who’s who of the world’s worst arms dealers, both from the UK and across the world.

“Israel is an apartheid state, and it is disgusting that the UK is not only selling weapons to Israel but encouraging Israeli arms companies to sell their weapons in London.

“Deals done at DSEI will cause misery across the world, causing global instability, and devastating people’s lives.

“Representatives from regimes such as Saudi Arabia, who have used UK-made weapons to commit war crimes in Yemen, will be wined and dined and encouraged to buy yet more arms.”

Ms Apple repeated her previous warnings that arms dealers do not care about peace or security but only about “perpetuating conflict, because conflict increases profits for their shareholders.”

She also hit out at the British government for repeatedly showing that it “cares more about the money made from dodgy deals with dictators than it does about the people whose lives will be ruined by the sales.”

“Arms dealers will not be welcome when they arrive in London as they will be met with protesters who will ensure they have to face the reality of the consequences of their deadly trade,” Ms Apple said.

“War and repression starts at the Excel centre and campaigners will be doing everything they can to stop it there.”

A full list of anti-arms events can be found on the STAF website.