Arming Apartheid

Arming Apartheid

Thank you for contacting me about the sale of arms to Israel.
 
The UK maintains one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control systems in the world; all applications for licences to export military and dual use equipment are assessed on a case by case basis, against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. These criteria consider a range of issues, including the existence of a clear risk that exports might be used in the commission of a violation of international humanitarian law. The Government will not grant a licence if the export fails to meet any of the criteria.
 
All countries, including Israel, have a right to self-defence. The Government stated clearly last summer that Israel had the right to defend itself against illegal and indiscriminate rocket attacks from Hamas - but in doing so it was vital that all actions were proportionate, in line with international humanitarian law, and calibrated to avoid civilian casualties.
 
The Government takes seriously any reports that UK supplied components may have been used during Operation Protective Edge. At the time, the Government reviewed all extant export licences to Israel and found that the vast majority of exports licensed for Israel were not for items that could be used by Israeli forces in operations in Gaza in response to attacks by Hamas.
 
In August 2014, the Government announced that 12 licences had been identified for components which could have been part of equipment used by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. Had significant hostilities resumed, the Government was concerned that it would not have been able to clarify if the licence criteria were being met and it would therefore have suspended those licences. Having monitored the situation, the Government assessed that the resumption of hostilities when Hamas later broke the ceasefire was not significant enough to warrant a suspension. I am pleased that shortly after this resumption, all parties reached a ceasefire agreement.
 
In July 2015, the Government announced that it had sufficient information from a wide variety of sources to apply standard export licensing criteria without additional measures: it is confident that all export licences in circulation for Israel meet the licensing criteria. I know that the Government continues to monitor the situation and retains the power, should it be required, to suspend licenses if the security conditions deteriorate.
 
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.