Suspension of arms export licenses to Israel is welcome but inadequate and shows that pressure must be maintained.
Yesterday’s announcement by Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, that 30 arms export licenses to Israel will be suspended, does not go far enough. The Foreign Secretary has finally accepted that there is a clear risk that UK arms exports might be used to commit serious violations of international law, and this is testament to all those who have campaigned for an end to the arms trade with Israel. However, that pressure must now be maintained. We call on the government to end the exports of F-35 components for planes that will then be sold to Israel.
Disgracefully, in his House of Commons statement, David Lammy continued to present Israel as a key ally rather than what it is – a state which is currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice having already been found guilty of maintaining an unlawful occupation and practicing the crime of apartheid. Despite this, the government has now conceded what was already clear to human rights and legal experts, the international courts, and millions in Britain and around the world. This decision amounts to an unambiguous admission that Israel is engaged in widespread violations of international law and therefore, there is a ‘clear risk’ that arms exported to Israel could be used for that purpose. Given the previous willingness of Labour leaders – infamously including Keir Starmer – to tolerate and excuse Israel’s violations of international law, there can be no doubt that yesterday’s belated announcement would not have come without the tireless campaigning efforts and enormous public pressure that has been brought to bear. In that context, the decision to suspend some arms licenses is welcome.
Unfortunately, these measures do not go far enough. Inexplicably, it has been announced that certain arms exports to Israel will be exempted. These include the ‘Open General’ licence relating to components for the F-35 combat aircraft which are exported to Israel indirectly via the USA. Just yesterday, Danish news outlet Information, together with NGO Danwatch, revealed that, for the first time, it has been possible to definitively confirm the use by Israel of an F-35 stealth fighter to carry out a specific attack on an Israeli-designated ‘safe zone’ in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, killing 90 people and injuring at least 300. Such attacks are clear violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles of proportionality and distinction.
In his statement, Lammy suggested that suspending these licenses would disrupt the global supply chain for the F-35, which would impact on Britain and other countries. Global supply chains are no excuse for the government to fail to stand by its international obligations to prevent genocide and uphold international law. Even so, it is perfectly possible for the government to amend the Open General licence to prevent the indirect supply of these parts to Israel.
This decision is a limited but welcome first step. The government must now apply the principles of international law to all export licenses. We will continue to escalate our demand that it does.
Statement approved by Campaign Against Arms Trade, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and War on Want
