arms fair

Declassified barred from London arms fair as Israeli weapons dealers arrive

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https://www.declassifieduk.org/declassified-barred-from-london-arms-fair-as-israeli-weapons-dealers-arrive

A mock sign greets delegates arriving at DSEI. (Photo: Vuk Valcic / Alamy)

Press freedom groups condemn organiser’s last minute decision to deny Declassified entry.

A major arms fair has been criticised by press freedom groups for refusing to let Declassified enter the event, which is being held for the first time since Labour took power.

The biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade show is hosting over 50 Israeli companies this week at London’s sprawling ExCel Centre, despite cancelling plans for an Israeli government pavilion.

Exhibitors include Rafael, a missile manufacturer wholly owned by the Israeli state, and private weapons firm Elbit, which supplies 85% of drones used in Gaza.

It marks the first time Declassified has been denied media accreditation, having attended the last two DSEI events.

Those took place under Conservative governments in 2023 and 2021, when we questioned defence ministers about arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Reporters Without Borders said the decision to block Declassified this year was “worrying”, “anti-democratic” and “suggests there is something to hide.”

When Declassified was allowed to enter DSEI in 2021, event spokesman General Roddy Porter claimed: “We’ve got nothing to hide here. This is a legitimate government transactional business.”

DSEI is organised by the company Clarion Events but relies on close cooperation from the UK’s Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and trade department.

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Article continues at https://www.declassifieduk.org/declassified-barred-from-london-arms-fair-as-israeli-weapons-dealers-arrive

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Campaigners to target arms fair at Twickenham Stadium

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-to-target-arms-fair-at-twickenham-stadium

A Premiership match at Twickenham Stadium, London, December 30, 2023

CAMPAIGNERS are targeting the world’s best-known rugby stadium for protests against an arms fair which features exhibitors dealing weapons to Israel for its genocidal attacks on Gaza.

Twickenham Stadium in south-west London is the home of the English Rugby Union.

Every year the stadium hosts a conference which brings together arms manufacturers and buyers from some of the world’s most oppressive regimes.

Companies involved include Israeli-owned Elbit which has four factories in Britain manufacturing drones for the Israeli military,

Raytheon, another participant, produces guided missiles including a delivery system for cluster bombs, which have been ruled illegal under international law.

Opponents of the event are running regular stalls outside the stadium handing out leaflets exposing its use in the arms trade.

The stadium will be targeted when the event is due to take place on Monday January 22.

The campaign is being led by Twickenham and Richmond Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/campaigners-to-target-arms-fair-at-twickenham-stadium

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Campaigners protest arms fair in Twickenham

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Anti-arms campaigners outside Twickenham Stadium

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/campaigners-protest-arms-fair-in-twickenham

ACTIVISTS protested today outside Twickenham rugby stadium, where “human rights-abusing nations” were taking part in an armoured vehicle trade fair.

About 70 people took part in the demonstration in south-west London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and supported by Campaign Against Arms Trade.

The local PSC group said that Israeli defence ministers were among the delegates at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 fair, along wth representatives of Israeli weapons giant Elbit Systems.

Also among the attendees was Italian arms firm Leonardo, part of a consortium of firms producing the Typhoon jets used by Saudi Arabia in its war on Yemen, according to the fair’s events programme.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/campaigners-protest-arms-fair-in-twickenham

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