# How Elbit Systems Planted A Story About Palestine Action Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRASVg3wgI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/dwRASVg3wgI Generated: 2025-11-06T21:33:12.54+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The video reveals that Elbit Systems' UK PR firm, CMS Strategic, actively planted a story in The Times suggesting the UK Home Office was investigating Palestine Action for possible Iranian funding, with the aim of influencing the decision to ban the group and ultimately chilling civil liberties, as evidenced by the firm's director claiming credit for placing the story. **Key Points:** - Palestine Action was banned as a terrorist group in July 2025, leading to arrests of protestors for activities like holding signs of support. - The Times published a story on June 23, 2025, claiming the Home Office was investigating Palestine Action over possible Iranian funding, which the Home Office later denied recognizing when approached by Private Eye. - CMS Strategic, Elbit's UK PR firm, is implicated in planting the story about Palestine Action, with its Managing Director, Georgia Pickering, claiming credit for getting the story into newspapers. - Elbit Systems, Israel's largest military manufacturer with several UK sites, subsequently lobbied the Home Office for a retrial after charges against Palestine Action co-founders were dismissed, according to declassified documents shown. - The closure of an Elbit Systems UK site in Bristol in September 2025 followed months of protests by Palestine Action, some of which resulted in activists receiving jail time. - The overall strategy, according to the analysis, is for the government and media to create a narrative that normalizes the criminalization of Palestine Action and scares the public by linking them to terrorism, thereby suppressing dissent. - The government's response, including introducing the Crime and Policing Bill to restrict protests, is seen as laying groundwork for using anti-terror measures against peaceful dissent. ![Screenshot at 00:30: The video introduces the core issue with a headline from The Times detailing the ban on Palestine Action and the Home Office investigating an alleged Iran link, setting the stage for the critique of media and state influence.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-00-30.png) **Context:** The video discusses the political and media maneuvering surrounding the banning of the Palestine Action group in the UK. Palestine Action is known for its direct action campaigns targeting companies like Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer with UK operations. The discussion centers on allegations that Elbit's PR firm actively sought to influence the government's decision to proscribe the group by planting suggestive stories in major media outlets, linking the activists to foreign influence. ## Detailed Analysis The video details a coordinated effort, allegedly orchestrated by Elbit Systems' UK PR firm, CMS Strategic, to influence the British government's decision to ban Palestine Action under counter-terrorism laws. Helena (NoJusticeMTG) explains that after Palestine Action was banned in July 2025, leading to protestors facing up to 14 years in prison, The Times published a story (June 23, 2025) alleging Iranian funding, a claim the Home Office later distanced itself from when questioned by Private Eye. Further evidence from a Private Eye report indicates CMS Strategic's Managing Director, Georgia Pickering, took credit for planting this story. Declassified documents also show Elbit Systems lobbied the Home Office regarding the court case after initial charges against activists were dismissed. The actions of Elbit, which was also linked to the closure of its Bristol facility due to sustained protests, illustrate a pattern of using state apparatus and media narratives to suppress activism related to the conflict in Gaza. Dalia Gebrial later elaborates that this environment fosters a political culture where civil liberties are curtailed, and dissent against Israel is framed as terrorism, suggesting the government is actively seeking to criminalize non-mainstream protest methods. ### Timeline of Events - Palestine Action banned as a terrorist group (00:01) - The Times reports on alleged Iranian funding (00:29) - Elbit Systems lobbies Home Office after charges dismissed (02:16) - Elbit UK facility in Bristol closes following protests (02:07) ### Media and PR Involvement - CMS Strategic acted as Elbit's PR firm for years (01:32) - CMS Director claimed credit for planting the story in newspapers about Palestine Action (01:39) - The Times story alleged Home Office investigation into Iranian funding (02:54) - Private Eye investigation reveals PR firm's role (01:31) ### Government and Legal Response - Activists faced up to 14 years in prison for breaches of the Terrorism Act (00:11) - UK government pushed the Crime and Policing Bill to restrict protests (06:51) - The government response is framed as narrative control to crack down on dissent (08:03) ### Dalia Gebrial's Analysis - Corporate interests (Elbit Systems) successfully push for criminalization of protest (03:44) - The government and media collaborate to create a 'specter' of terror to suppress activism (09:42) - The narrative aims to reverse lines of accountability away from the state's complicity (05:08) ![Screenshot at 00:00: Helena from NoJusticeMTG introducing the topic of the Palestine Action ban.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-00-00.png) ![Screenshot at 00:30: The Times headline reporting 'Anger over Palestine Action ban as Home Office investigates Iran link,' highlighting the initial media narrative.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-00-30.png) ![Screenshot at 01:15: The Daily Mail headline questioning if Palestine Action's cash trail leads to Iran, showing further media focus on foreign links.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-01-15.png) ![Screenshot at 01:20: The Spectator headline confirming the Home Office is probing Palestine Action over a suspected Iran link.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-01-20.png) ![Screenshot at 01:30: Text overlay detailing CMS Strategic's role as Elbit's PR firm and claiming credit for planting the story about Palestine Action.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-01-30.png) ![Screenshot at 02:07: The Guardian headline noting an Israeli arms manufacturer closed a UK facility targeted by Palestine Action, showing a direct impact of protests.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-02-07.png) ![Screenshot at 02:16: Declassified UK headline stating Elbit Systems lobbied the Home Office regarding the Palestine Action court case.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-02-16.png) ![Screenshot at 04:44: Dalia Gebrial discussing how Elbit Systems, which supplies weapons to Israel, operates in the UK under the guise of protecting allied interests.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-04-44.png) ![Screenshot at 08:00: Dalia Gebrial discussing the overall crackdown on civil liberties and the rise of authoritarianism in the UK state response.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-08-00.png) ![Screenshot at 10:18: Biographical slide for Kira Lewis, Senior Account Executive at CMS Strategic, detailing her background working for The Labour Party and Labour First.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/dwRASVg3wgI/00-10-18.png)