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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Activists say they have proof ministers tried to influence police over Israeli arms firm protests

Palestine Action Police Israel Home Office Elbit Systems UK the Attorney General Office Chris Philp CPS Priti Patel Elbit
Palestine Action protesters wearing red suits outside of a factory
Palestine Action protesters at an Instro Precision factory in Sandwich, Kent. Instro Precision is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems UK. Photograph: Martin Pope/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Internal government documents show that Home Office ministers and staff tried to influence police and prosecutors to crack down on activists targeting the UK factories of an Israeli arms manufacturer, campaigners have claimed.

Briefing notes, obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests by Palestine Action, show details of government meetings, predating the 7 October Hamas attacks and Israel’s response in Gaza, intended to “reassure” Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms manufacturer, which is subject to a direct action campaign by the campaign group.

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