Pro-Palestinian protestors from Newry and Armagh picket Kilkeel factory - claiming it makes seats for Israel airline Al El
Around a dozen Pro-Palestinian protestors “bussed in” from Newry and Armagh have protested outside a factory in Kilkeel which they claims makes seats for Israel's national airline.
Members from the Newry and Armagh branches of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and 'The Mournes for Palestine' protested at the Rockwell Collins factory – formerly B/E Aerospace – today.
They claimed that Collins Aerospace is “undertaking production of seats for Israel’s national airline El Al”.
Also among their claims are that El Al has repeatedly had flights “through Irish skies” containing munitions and parts for F35 jets, alongside 2,800 kilograms of guns bound for Israel.
“This is no normal airline but a backbone of Israel’s transport infrastructure, in which its government maintains a special state share and control over the firm’s operations that has effective monopoly status.”
It also claimed the Collins parent company RTX – formerly Raytheon – provided detonator fuses to the Israeli military from America – and said they were against what they said was Invest NI support for the factory.
Collins Aerospace was invited to comment.
A Facebook page called ‘Kilkeel Unionist Club’ objected in advance to the protest.
“Do they really think that local people want to see this nonsense?” it asked, noting that the company has provided jobs in the town since 1966.
“What will this protest add to Kilkeel? Absolutely nothing. Never mind the fact that this isn't an organic protest as most of the 'protestors' will be bussed in as per usual at these Palestine rallies.”