At the end of April, a trial began in Stuttgart of Palestine solidarity activists who have become known as the ‘Ulm 5’.
What is this case about? A year ago, five activists broke into the premises of the defence contractor Elbit Systems Deutschland in Ulm. They destroyed computers, telephones and laboratories. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the damage amounted to around one million euros. The prosecution has brought charges of criminal damage and trespass. Furthermore, those involved are accused of being members of a criminal organisation. On top of that, they are alleged to have spread ‘anti-Semitic narratives’.
The role of the corporation
Elbit Systems Ltd., headquartered in Tel Aviv, is one of Israel’s largest defence contractors and supplies the majority of the drones for the country’s army. Furthermore, the company also produces fully automated, remote-controlled weapon systems, a light tracked armoured vehicle, communications systems and, via a subsidiary, spyware. In the wake of global rearmament, Elbit is expanding and has opened a second site in Germany. Cooperation with the Bundeswehr and other European NATO countries is set to become even closer.iIn the second quarter of this year, the defence contractor increased its profit by 38 per cent year-on-year to 173.6 million US dollars. With an impressive order book worth 32 billion US dollars, further staggering profits are on the horizon.iiThose who have suffered and continue to suffer most are the people of Gaza. With its ‘products’, Elbit plays a key role in the mass murder of Palestinians.
Resistance
It therefore stands to reason that the movement is not only demonstrating against the war in Gaza in general, but is also targeting a key player. As early as 2023, there were blockade actions against the company in the UK, Brazil and Japan. Last September, a camp lasting several days took place in Ulm, featuring protests against Elbit.
The accused activists felt the same helplessness as many people who watched the horrific images from Gaza and compassion, grief, anger, despair and the urge to do something about the crimes. This is how Daniel Tatlow-Devally describes his motivation: “I did this in the hope that it might at least disrupt the continued supply of equipment to the Israeli armed forces. And I also did this with the intention of publicly exposing the fact that the German government and arms manufacturers based in Germany are actively supporting the war against Gaza and profiting from it.” He continues: “Looking the other way whilst genocide is taking place is reprehensible; providing the equipment to carry it out is even worse.” He also firmly rejects the accusation of anti-Semitism, stating that whilst it “did not surprise him, it nevertheless outraged him”.iii
The trial as a statement
The fact that this is no “ordinary” court case is evident from the venue alone: Stuttgart-Stammheim. This is where the trials against the Red Army Faction (RAF) took place. The RAF was a group that kept the Federal Republic of Germany on tenterhooks in the 1970s with assassinations of representatives of capitalism. Only court proceedings of outstanding political interest to the state are held in the high-security courtroom.
The premises bear no resemblance to any ordinary court. The defendants are confined to a glass box and separated from their defence lawyers. “Shielded from the proceedings in the courtroom by a high glass pane, they thus become spectators of their own impending sentencing,” according to the Committee for Fundamental Rights and Democracy. This constitutes “a violation of the right to a fair trial.”iv
Repression
The activists have been held in pre-trial detention for a year now, as the prosecution claims there is a ‘risk of absconding’. Yet they surrendered without resistance at the time of their arrest. The detainees are held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and are allowed only one to two hours of visiting time per month. Furthermore, the defence criticises the fact that the handcuffs were tightened so tightly on one defendant that bruises formed.
Defence
The defendants’ defence lawyers argue that, in legal terms, the action constituted an act of self-defence (Penal Code, Article 32), as the weapon systems from Ulm had, according to delivery records, been shipped to Israeli seaports and airports. There is reason to suspect that the military equipment was intended for the war in Gaza. The lawyers are therefore pleading for an acquittal for their clients.v
Solidarity
There is indeed solidarity organised by some left-wing organisations. The seats in the visitors’ gallery of the courtroom are fully occupied. As the defendants come from various countries [the five, aged between 25 and 40, are from Ireland, Britain, Germany and Spain, all resident in Berlin], left-wing MPs are also in attendance. However, particularly within the party Die Linke, there is still much room for improvement. The author of this piece has found no statement from the federal Left Party on the matter. That should change quickly.
One can certainly view the action critically. Die Sol advocates for international solidarity and mass actions by the working class and takes a critical view of forms of action – however courageous they may be – that are carried out solely by individual activists. That said, this is also a consequence of the fact that the labour movement and the political Left are failing to show a way in which collective resistance can successfully combat the war and the occupation.
Nevertheless, it is an understandable act of resistance against a barbaric war and the German government’s scandalous support for it. Ultimately, the trial of the ‘Ulm 5’ is also about justifying the policies of this country’s ruling class and intimidating the movement in solidarity with Palestine. We therefore call on our readers to show solidarity with those in custody.
Further information on this topic can be found here: https://ulm5.info/de/.i https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbit_Systems
ii https://www.kapitalmarktexperten.de/elbit-systems-aktie-gewinn-steigt-um-38-prozent/
iii https://www.grundrechtekomitee.de/details/pressemitteilung-die-eigentliche-gefahr-liegt-im-wort-prozess-in-stuttgart-stammheim-gegen-die-ulm-5#sdfootnote1sym
iv https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/stuttgart-israel-palaestina-prozess-ulm-5-gaza-100.html
v https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1201471.elbit-sabotage-ulm-prozess-weitere-ungehoerte-antraege-und-wunde-handgelenke.html