Yossi Schwartz, ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 27.08.2024
The most critical issue facing the British Labor Party in power is whether to stop the transfer of weapons to Israel. We cannot trust PM Starmer to stop this deathly transfer. According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade. This is a list of UK-made military products being sold to Israel:
“Components for military radars – 279
Components for targeting equipment – 147
Components for military aircraft head-up/down displays – 92
Components for submarines – 82
Components for unmanned air vehicles – 81
Components for military support aircraft – 67
Components for electronic warfare equipment – 193
Components for combat aircraft – 59
Components for military training aircraft – 62
General naval vessel components – 46
On December 18, 2023, Conservative Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch decided not to suspend existing licenses or stop granting licenses but to keep her decisions “under careful review.” Then, on April 8, 2024, following “advice” from the Foreign Secretary, Kemi Badenoch decided that the government’s position would remain unchanged.
Labor MPs supporting the Palestinians have criticized the UK’s Attorney General for his reluctance to endorse a prohibition on arms exports to Israel. The Zionist Richard Hermer KC has informed Foreign Office staff that he would withhold approval for restricting certain weapons sales until they can definitively identify which items might be used in violation of international law.
According to government data, the UK granted over 100 arms export licenses to Israel between October 7 and May 31 of this year, and there are 347 active licenses for Israel.
In the coming weeks, the government led by Keir Starmer is expected to face mounting pressure from numerous Labor MPs regarding the suspension of arms sales to Israel. The Attorney General plays a crucial role in the government’s decision-making process, evaluating the legal aspects of potentially suspending export licenses to Israel. While the Foreign Office officially oversees this review, Starmer is involved in the proceedings.
Labor backbenchers are accusing their government of playing over the ban, suggesting “It would be better just to be honest and clear and say that it’s now got to the point where we shouldn’t be continuing any further with arms licenses,” the Telegraph reported on Monday.
Labor MP Andy McDonald, who served as Shadow Employment Secretary in Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet but was not given a cabinet post after the party’s July 4 landslide victory, told the Telegraph: “All such weapons could be used to break international law. Moreover, there is a clear risk that those weapons will be used that way. That is the test.”[i]
No sale of weapons to the Zionist monster!
For Palestine, red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[i] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/26/attorney-general-under-fire-refusing-ban-arms-sales-israel/