Partial suspension of arms sales to Israel welcome but government must go further

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the announcement today that the UK government will suspend some arms licences to Israel, but warned that ministers must go further to drive peace talks and an end to violence in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

The Foreign Secretary announced the change in policy today in Parliament following an assessment by officials that there is a “clear risk” that items exported to Israel might be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law, but has stressed that it is not a blanket ban on sales or an arms embargo, with only 30 licences out of 350 being suspended.

Mr Carmichael said:

“This is a welcome step to encourage the de-escalation of attacks in Gaza and beyond – but ministers must take further action if we are going to see meaningful progress. If there is a clear risk that some weapons could be used in violation of international humanitarian law then it raises the question of why any weapons are considered safe to be sold.

“No one questions the right of Israel to defend itself but that is not and never can be a blank cheque, particularly in the use of UK-made weapons. There are serious and widespread concerns about the disproportionate attacks Israel has made and the losses of civilian lives in the past year.

“The government must act to suspend arms exports to Israel and use all our influence to mitigate this humanitarian disaster. We need to redouble our efforts to secure an immediate bilateral ceasefire. I shall be working with colleagues on all sides of Parliament to drive the government to go further.”