British Labour government suspends arms sales to Israel | The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com | David Israel | 24 Tammuz 5784 – Tuesday, July 30, 2024

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According to sources, Britain is considering suspending certain arms exports to Israel, The Telegraph reported, citing two Israeli government officials who said Israel had expected such an announcement, but intensive diplomatic talks were currently underway with the newly elected Labour government.

It goes without saying that such a policy change would place a significant strain on relations between Britain and Israel.

According to the UK, the British government has issued 345 export licenses to local arms manufacturers for sales to Israel through May 31, 2024. A further 185 licenses are in the approval phase.

In June, 69-year-old Fabian Uziell-Hamilton, a Jewish Labour MP for Leeds North East who briefly served as shadow foreign secretary, was asked by a Labour voter who accused Israel of genocide: “Should we sell arms to Israel?” To which Hamilton, the grandson of a rabbi, replied, according to The Telegraph: “As for arms sales, if we win the election next week, we will stop selling arms to Israel immediately.”

“We are not supplying huge quantities of arms, but we will stop them because if we don’t, we are complicit,” the Labour MP added. “We will also stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which is our biggest customer.” (Labour’s Jewish shadow foreign secretary: No arms sales to Israel after our victory)

The Times reported this week that a final decision on arms sales to Israel could be delayed until late summer. The exact extent of the proposed restrictions also remains uncertain.

Israeli sources had initially expected an announcement as early as Tuesday, but the recent escalation of regional tensions following the Hezbollah attack that killed 12 Israeli children on Saturday may affect the British government’s timetable (it would be inappropriate to announce cuts in military supplies while the young victims are being buried).

A British government spokesman told The Telegraph: “We are currently reviewing Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Recent actions by the British government indicate a shift towards a hostile attitude towards Israel. Labour Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently announced the resumption of funding to UNRWA, whose staff were proven to have been involved in the October 7 atrocities. This decision was made despite ongoing investigations into these serious allegations.

In addition, the Labor government has reversed the position of its conservative predecessors and withdrawn its opposition to possible arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

These moves suggest that the Labour Party is reorienting its approach to Israel’s policies and actions.

Britain has repeatedly attempted to arrest Israeli officials on trumped-up charges in the past.

• In 2005, retired Israeli general Doron Almog narrowly avoided arrest in Britain for alleged war crimes by remaining on his plane at Heathrow Airport. British police were denied entry by El Al, Israel’s national airline, fearing an armed confrontation. The incident sparked a minor diplomatic row that Israel called an “outrage” and Britain apologized for the embarrassment caused.
• In the following period, several high-ranking Israeli military and political officials cancelled their trips to Britain because they feared possible arrest.
• In 2006, the future Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Aviv Kochavi, abandoned his plans to study in Great Britain.
• In 2007, former Shin Bet chief MK Avi Dichter canceled a speaking engagement at King’s College in London.
• In 2009, an arrest warrant was issued for opposition leader Tzipi Livni for alleged war crimes during the 2008-09 Gaza war. Police raided a London hotel, but Livni was not in the UK. This incident led Israeli military officers to cancel a planned visit for fear of arrest, as the British authorities could not guarantee her safety from legal action.