Kildare firm halts exports to Israel following protest
Kildare Palestine Solidarity Campaign (KPSC) group protesting outside Powell Electronics in Clane
US-OWNED Powell Electronics has announced it will cease all exports from Ireland to Israel following a protest by the Kildare Palestine Solidarity Campaign (KPSC) at its Clane facility on Wednesday, April 28.
Members of the group as well as locals and members of the public outside the county blockaded the company’s European base from early morning in a bid to stop the shipment of electronic components reportedly linked to weapons production.
The action followed a recent investigation by The Ditch, which revealed that Powell’s Kildare warehouse had been supplying parts to Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer.
In a statement to KFM Radio following the demonstration, Powell Electronics said: “No more product is ever going to leave Ireland for Israel.” While the company did not clarify whether this decision represents a permanent policy shift, campaigners have welcomed the announcement as a direct outcome of local pressure.
Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, joined KPSC at the site and hand-delivered a letter demanding the company end all dealings with Elbit Systems and commit to international human rights standards.
“Powell Electronics is operating in our community, and the people of Kildare will not be complicit in genocide,” she said.
The campaign group’s letter outlined three key demands: an immediate end to all shipments to Elbit, a public commitment to ethical business practices, and a full review of company supply chains.
KPSC spokesperson Dorothy Collin called the response by the company “very quick and positive”: “It shows that peacefully protesting does have an effect.”
However, KSPC wants to clarify that they will keep pressure on the situation until an official statement outlining the company’s end of shipments to Elbit has been released.
“We would hope that they don’t think that [the statement to Kfm] is enough. We would love a public statement.”
“As a very proud neutral nation we cannot let that be tarnished by being complicit in genocide.”
Powell Electronics has been contacted for comment, but did not respond by the time of publication.
