LABOUR ministers have been urged to stop “dithering” over technical legal arguments and ban weapon sales to Israel for good.
The UK Government is reportedly tied up in wrangling over whether to ban arms exports to the Benjamin Netanyahu regime – as ministers squabble over whether Israel is using arms “offensively” or “defensively”.
But arms sales appear to be suspended in the meantime, with suppliers receiving responses from the Department for Business and Trade saying that applications for export licences are suspended until the conclusion of an official review of the Government’s legal position, The Guardian reported.
The paper also reported that Attorney General Richard Hermer has told Foreign Office officials he will not approve a decision to ban weapons sales unless they can be said for sure to be used to break international law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy (above) has talked of banning the export of “offensive” weapons while continuing to allow the sale of “defensive” ones – a distinction that is reportedly holding up the outcome of a legal review of the Government’s position.
Lammy had been expected to unveil the results of the review before MPs’ summer break but disputes among senior members of the Government have delayed a statement.
READ MORE: Labour slammed for continuing Israeli arms sales secrecy
They are said to be concerned that the Government’s distinction between “offensive” and “defensive” weapons would not stand up to a legal challenge.
But Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie (below) dismissed the Government’s distinction as “spurious”.
He told The National: “There is no excuse for arming genocide, but Labour are dithering rather than taking action. The split between ‘offensive weapons’ and ‘defensive weapons’ is spurious at best.
“Fighter jet components, for example, are clearly not defensive when genocide is being inflicted from the air.
“Every government needs to consider their own complicity and what they are doing to stop the killing and end the occupation. The message that David Lammy and his colleagues are sending to Palestinians is that their lives are less important than arms company profits.”
He argued that it was “clear” Israel had committed “heinous war crimes against the Palestinian people,” adding: “From Genocide to collective punishment and the denial of basic human rights, such as access to water and shelter, this assault has been a moral disgrace.”
READ MORE: David Lammy pushes back publishing Israeli arms sales legal advice
The MSP said: “The UK Government has helped to enable these appalling acts by arming and supporting the perpetrators. They are empowering and legitimising the Israeli government's immoral and illegal assault.”
Tim Bierley, campaigns and policy manager with the Global Justice Now pressure group, accused Labour of “legal gymnastics to continue weapons sales to Israel” and warned this meant “there's a real chance ministers could one day be liable for war crimes”.
Writing in The Guardian, barrister Sam Fowles said the Government’s position was that sales are lawful because it does not believe Israel is breaking international law saying this relied “heavily” on “assurances provided by Israel itself”.
He added: “There is a real possibility that the UK, or individuals herein, are guilty of aiding and assisting Israel’s proven and alleged breaches of international law.
"The truth lies in the information about arms sales, intelligence sharing, trade, and legal advice that the government still keeps secret from the public. Paradoxically, only the government knows for sure whether the UK is breaching international law.
“The UK, as a member of the UN security council, has a particular duty to model respect for the law – while the Labour government now has an opportunity and an obligation to do better than its predecessors.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "This government is committed to upholding international law. We have made clear that we will not export items if they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
“There is an ongoing review process to assess whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law, which the Foreign Secretary initiated on day one in office. We will provide an update as soon as that review process has been completed.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel