Arms exports to Israel: UK Government accused of ‘hiding behind technicalities’

Plaid Cymru says UK has a ‘humanitarian duty’ to halt arms sales

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP has accused the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary David Cameron of “hiding behind technicalities” on the question of arms exports to Israel.

Rishi Sunak told LBC on Wednesday that “none of our closest allies have currently suspended existing arms licenses either” as a way of defending the UK’s position of continuing arms sales to Israel.

The Foreign Secretary David Cameron told reporters on Tuesday that continuing to allow arms exports put the UK in line with other “like-minded countries” and reiterated that the UK had a robust legal process for assessing those licences.

Liz Saville Roberts pointed out that Belgium, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain have all announced they would stop shipping weapons to Israel.

The UN Human Rights Council has also backed a ban on weapons sales to Israel, with 28 countries voting in favour, six against and 13 abstentions.

Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“Both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are deflecting questions about the ongoing sale of arms to Israel by insisting that none of Britain’s closest allies have ‘currently suspended existing arms licenses’.

 “They are hiding behind technicalities rather than addressing the horrific bigger picture.

 “The reality is that over 30,000 people are dead, and millions are starving. Yet, the UK Government continues to allow the supply of arms, perpetuating the killing.

 “Belgium, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain have all announced they would stop shipping weapons to Israel. In Denmark, a court case could result in its government having to suspend the export of F35 fighter jet parts to the US, as the finished jets are sold to Israel.

 “The UK Government must not shirk its particular moral and historical responsibility to seek peace in Israel and Palestine. It should have the courage to prioritise its humanitarian duty and immediately halt arms sales to Israel.”