DSEI, a campaign victory & new publication

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Dear Friends,

It’s an exceptionally busy time at CAAT with protests starting against Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), a [campaign victory]([link removed] and the publication of our revised briefing on [UK arms exports to Israel]([link removed]

At the time of writing, we’ve been witnessing tanks and lorryloads of weapons driving into the ExCeL Centre, as arms dealers start setting up shop for the DSEI arms fair. And Stop the Arms Fair (STAF) is there to stop them! STAF is running a [full programme]([link removed] of protests and workshops between now and 12th September, including the Festival of Resistance on Sunday, 7th September at East Gate, a No Faith in War day on Tuesday, 9th September and a No Pride in Genocide day on Wednesday, 10th September.

[FULL PROGRAMME OF ANTI-DSEI EVENTS]([link removed]

Meanwhile, CAAT’s Kick Israel Out of DSEI [campaign]([link removed] a significant, albeit partial, victory at the end of last week with the [news]([link removed])that the UK government wouldn’t be inviting an official Israeli government delegation. As a result, Israel announced it would no longer host its country pavilion. These were two of our key campaign demands when we launched our campaign back in April - and a massive thank you to all our supporters who’ve signed and shared our petition and other campaign resources and helped make this happen.

While this is obviously welcome news, it is perhaps only a [symbolic victory]([link removed] while DSEI is welcoming [51 Israeli arms companies]([link removed]) to DSEI. This includes allowing Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defence company, which makes 85% of the drones used by the Israeli Defence Force, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries to market their genocide-tested weapons to a global audience.

This is the government pretending to take action while safeguarding the profits of arms dealers. At the same time it’s banning an official Israeli delegation, it is on the cusp of awarding a [£2bn contract to Elbit Systems]([link removed]). These are not the actions of a government committed to taking action against Israel. [These are the actions of a government complicit in a genocide.]([link removed]

It is also clear that our government is not committed to taking any action that disrupts the profits of arms dealers. It is therefore down to campaigners across the country coming together to take action to uphold international law on the streets of East London - and this is why CAAT is one of 130 groups supporting The Big One: Shut DSEI Down protest on
Tuesday, 9th September. Protests start at 8am at the West gate, and we hope to see as many of you there as possible! Follow [Shut DSEI Down]([link removed]) on socials for updates and travel advice as there are tube and DLR strikes the same day. Limited crash space is available - contact [[email protected]](mailto:mail:[email protected]) for more info.

Finally, CAAT has just published its updated version of its UK arms to Israel report. [How the UK arms and supports Israel’s genocide in Gaza]([link removed] shows how the UK government is deeply complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The report provides the most comprehensive information available on UK arms sales to Israel and is essential reading for anyone wanting to know more about how deeply complicity the UK government is in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

[KEEP CAAT CAMPAIGNING]([link removed]

[Demonstrators outside DSEI hold banner reading war starts here as large lorries deliver death products to the ExCel centre]

Israel is committing genocide. Israel has created a man-made famine; babies are dying from starvation. Israel is bombing hospitals and killing journalists. Our government is lying to us, telling us it's doing everything it can to stop these atrocities. But the facts speak for themselves. This is a government breaking international law to safeguard arms dealers’ profits.

However, the pressure is slowly working; we must keep this pressure up.

We must do everything we can to stop DSEI, we must keep demanding a full two way arms embargo on Israel and we must keep trying to shut down the arms companies profiting from war crimes.

And your help is needed more than ever to do this work.

If you can’t make it down to DSEI, then get involved in one of our [e-actions]([link removed] - demand EventBeds™ and NuBreed Hotels cut ties with DSEI and don't offer any hospitality to arms dealers.

Your financial support is needed so much at this time - please donate to help us Stop DSEI and [Keep CAAT Campaigning]([link removed]

Charles Wright Campaign Against Arms Trade

[THROW ARMS DEALERS OUT OF BED]([link removed]

[DONATE TO CAAT'S CAMPAIGNING HERE]([link removed]

Campaign Against Arms Trade

Unit 1.9, The Green House,
244 - 254 Cambridge Heath Road,
London
E2 9DA

Tel: 020 7281 0297

Web: [www.caat.org.uk]([link removed]

Email: [email protected]

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