Elbit Loses 'Prison Rights' Battle: A Win, If You Ignore the Other 75 Years
The story details Palestine Action's successful hunger strike, allegedly prompting the UK government to offer 'concessions' regarding prison conditions for activists and Elbit Systems losing a UK optics contract. While any victory against an arms manufacturer supplying a military engaged in systemic violence is notable, the framing of 'prison rights' and a singular contract loss as a 'win' rather
than a drop in an ocean of state-backed impunity is, shall we say, a choice. It's a bit like celebrating a speed bump while the motorway is still paving over homes. Elbit Systems, for those not paying attention, has been a key supplier to the Israeli military for decades, with its drones and surveillance technology regularly deployed in Gaza and the West Bank. Its track record includes allegations
of complicity in human rights abuses – allegations often met with silence from major Western governments while they sign off on arms deals. For context, while protestors hunger strike over prison conditions, the UK government is still busy funneling arms to the region. According to official export reports, the UK licensed £42 million worth of arms to Israel in 2022 alone. One might wonder if
'prison rights' are merely a distraction from the right to exist, unbombed.