Britain will not halt arms sales to Israel, Foreign Secretary David Cameron confirmed yesterday, rejecting mounting pressure for a boycott.
TheJC He said: “On Israel and international humanitarian law, and as required by the UK’s robust arms export control regime, I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza and Israel’s conduct of their military campaign. The latest assessment leaves our position on export licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received.”
Britain’s position is “in line with our international partners,” he stressed, saying: “So far, no like-minded countries have taken the decision to suspend existing arms export licences to Israel. And I’d add that Israel remains a vital defense and security partner to the UK.
In an op-ed for the Sunday Times last weekend, Cameron reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence. “Israel cannot be expected,” he wrote, “to live next to an organization that carried out such brutal attacks and has declared that, if possible, it would do the same all over again.”
Alongside calling for an increase in aid reaching Gaza, he demanded for “the immediate release of all hostages. That innocent people have been captured and held is a perpetual reminder of the monstrous organisation we are dealing with.”
UK arms imports represent less than one per cent of Israel’s total imported arms, and an even smaller proportion of Israel’s overall weapons arsenal.
Pro-Hamas protesters have sprayed red paint over the Ministry of Defence headquarters in London, demanding that both the Conservative and Labour parties commit to imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel. In a post to the Metropolitan Police official X account, the force said five people had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are in custody.
Hartmut says
Pretty much none does.
On a side note Nicaragua sued Germany over weapon supplies to Israel in front of the international court of justice on the grounds of committing a genocide.
Bugsy278 says
I love the girl at the end of the 2nd video and how she screams. Ya, if ignorance is bliss, she’s the poster child.