Stop Arming Israel campaign victory
War on Want welcomes news of a significant step forward for the Stop Arming Israel campaign. After months of pressure the UK government has announced it is revoking five arms licences to Israel in light of the assault on Gaza earlier this year. The revoked licences are for components for warships used by the Israeli army during the attack on Gaza, which left over 1,400 Palestinians dead.
Yasmin Khan, War on Want senior campaigns officer, said: "The decision to revoke these licences sends a strong message to Israel that there will be no more business as usual while it continues to defy international law. At last the British government has taken action in response to Israel's war crimes in Gaza. This must be the first step towards a full arms embargo on Israel."
In April 2009 the Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced a review of arms exports to Israel in light of Israel's attack on Gaza. It is believed that Britain is the first country in the world to revoke an arms licence in response to the war on Gaza.
While this marks an important step for the campaign, the UK revoked only five out of a total 182 licences for arms exports. By selling arms to Israel the UK is giving direct material support for Israel's aggression and sending a clear message of approval for its actions. It was recently revealed that in the first nine months of last year Britain licensed the sale of military equipment to Israel worth £27 million.
The British government has repeatedly admitted it does not accept Israeli assurances that British arms will not be deployed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. War on Want is calling for an immediate two-way arms embargo against Israel.
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