UK suspension of Israel arms licenses a meager step

If any other state were accused of perpetrating genocide and the crime of apartheid, a decision to suspend arms sales and military cooperation would not be a tough call for politicians. Israel is the exception.

In a belated decision, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week announced the suspension of 30 out of 350 arms licenses to Israel. This seems a meager step, totally inadequate for the scale of the atrocities being inflicted on the Palestinians in Gaza. The grounds are laid out in the export licensing criteria that the government should “not issue export licenses if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Crucially, for the first time, the British government has publicly conceded that there is a serious risk Israel is violating international law in its current military operations in Gaza. It comes nearly 11 months later than any decent human rights group, but finally it has made such a determination public.

A major drawback is that all the UK parts for the F-35 fighter program will be excluded. Many see this as a way just to mollify the US. Human rights groups are continuing to contest the legality of this decision.

Yet, in the context of a state, Israel, which is so used to getting away with what it wants to do regardless of international law, these arms sales suspensions are not insignificant. Could more follow?

Amazingly, the new Labour government in the UK seemed embarrassed by its own decision

Chris Doyle

One has to wonder why more arms-exporting states have not done likewise. So far, Canada, Belgium and Spain have restricted sales. But nothing smacks of complicity more than the Biden administration’s refusal to stem the deluge of lethal weaponry it gives to Israel. Declarations of concern regarding Israeli behavior look hollow while this lethal pipeline continues. Meanwhile, Germany supplies about 30 percent of Israel’s arms imports but it is also yet to act.

Amazingly, the new Labour government in the UK seemed embarrassed by its own decision. Lammy mentioned the deaths of Palestinians as if they were collateral damage. So nervous was he that he had to state he had been a life-long Zionist. He was at pains to stress “this is not a blanket ban or an arms embargo.” The defense secretary reassured doubters that Israel remained a “staunch ally” of the UK, while not being the least bit embarrassed that a so-called ally is on trial for genocide.

What is extraordinary is that Israel’s conduct provided the foreign secretary with so many justifications for a full ban. He mentioned the conditions of detention but not the use of rape of Palestinian detainees who are held without trial. No mention of torture. He did not cite the willful destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza. He did not cite the genocidal comments that Israeli leaders routinely make. Perhaps Lammy knows that, if he were to cite the full force of the evidence of the scale of the Israeli crimes and atrocities, everyone would then demand the full arms embargo he failed to introduce.

Also remember that major legal bodies provide maximum legal cover. The International Court of Justice in January found plausible grounds that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. It has gotten far worse since then. The same court has also issued a historic advisory opinion that determined the Israeli occupation was illegal, that all Israeli settlements must be evacuated and that reparations must be paid to the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor has found enough grounds against both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to seek arrest warrants against them.

Israel has learned that the best form of defense is offense. Netanyahu called the decision ‘shameful’

Chris Doyle

Is it any wonder that Israel and its backing chorus of willing ciphers attacked with glee, scenting this weakness and nervousness? Israel has learned that the best form of defense is offense. Netanyahu called the decision “shameful.” Israeli officials do not bother trying to justify what they are doing, but rather just accuse Britain of abandoning Israel in its fight against Iran and Hamas.

Foreign Office sources have also confirmed, including to the author, that previous Foreign Secretary David Cameron had been given practically the same legal advice earlier this year and just sat on it. Back in January, the former prime minister had mumbled and stumbled in front of a parliamentary committee as to whether he had received advice on whether international law had been breached. He stunningly stated: “I can’t recall every single piece of paper that is out in front of me.” This is indicative of the sheer complacency and disinterest in ending war crimes against Palestinians that has so contaminated British politics.

Will there be more action? There should be. This government has so far refused to build on the sanctions regime imposed on just eight settlers and two settler groups. It is lagging behind both the US and the EU on that front.

For the moment, Palestinians and human rights advocates will have to content themselves with these micro-victories. They matter, but so much more is needed.

• Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London. X: @Doylech