Two Israeli dissidents have claimed they damaged the British headquarters of an Israeli-owned drone manufacturer to save Palestinian lives in the first court case of its kind in the UK.
Stavit Sinai and Ronnie Barkan – along with five other pro-Palestinian activists – are accused of burglary and criminal damage for allegedly breaking into the head office of Elbit Systems UK (Elbit UK) on the northern outskirts of Bristol in May 2022. It is thought to be the first time that Israeli nationals have been put on trial after taking part in direct action against an Israeli-owned defence company in the UK. The case continues next week in Bristol Crown Court.
Sinai, who grew up in Haifa, Israel, has accepted she used a sledgehammer and a small glass hammer to break windows in the offices of Elbit UK, which is owned by the Israeli military’s main supplier, Elbit Systems Ltd. Sinai also sprayed red paint from a fire extinguisher on the building.
