UK arms sales to Israel
The UK has consistently sold arms to Israel. The current policy was "clarified" in a letter dated 10 February 2011 from the Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, which says "I can confirm that UK policy on the export of controlled goods and equipment to Israel has not changed since the Coalition Government took office. All export licence applications to Israel are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria." However, this says nothing - the real issue is how the criteria are interpreted. Despite the UN stating that Israel "violates humanitarian law", and even though the criteria are supposed to assess the impact on regional peace, security and stability and the human rights record of the recipient, the sales continue.
Components matter
In addition to the military equipment being supplied directly from the UK, there are also components that go into US-built equipment destined for Israel. In July 2002, the UK government approved the export of components for F-16 fighters being made by the US company Lockheed Martin and sold to Israel. Then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw justified the sales saying: "The Government has judged that the UK's security and defence relationship with the US is fundamental to the UK's national security ... Defence collaboration with the US is also key to maintaining a strong defence industrial capacity." He went on "Any interruption to the supply of these components would have serious implications for the UK's defence relations with the United States." In other words, the commercial relationship between BAE Systems and US companies such as Lockheed Martin was judged more important than the lives of Palestinians.
Israel has used F-16 fighter aircraft and Apache combat helicopters to bomb Lebanese and Palestinian towns and villages. These have contained UK manufactured components including missile triggering systems for Apaches and Head-Up Displays for F-16s.
More information on UK companies known to have supplied military equipment to Israel.
Equipment used in Gaza contained UK-supplied components
In a Ministerial Statement on 21 April 2009, then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Miliband admitted that Israeli equipment used in Gaza "almost certainly" contained UK-supplied components. He cited F16 combat aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, Saar-Class corvettes and armoured personnel carriers. The following day, quizzed by the Commons' Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC), junior Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said no licences for components for the F16s, helicopters or armoured personnel carriers had been approved since the war on the Lebanon in 2006. On 13 July 2009 the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that licences for parts for the Saar corvettes had been revoked. The UK embassy in Israel confirmed this had been done following the then Foreign Secretary's statement.
Israel's own arms industry and the two-way links
Israel's military sector is made up of over 200 public and private companies, dominated by three state-owned ones: Israel Aircraft Industries (Israel's biggest employer outside government), Israel Military Industries and Rafael. Private company Elbit Systems is also significant.
The UK spends millions of pounds each year on 'battle-tested' arms from Israeli companies. One growing link is in the area of unmanned aerial vehicles, sometimes known as drones. More information about this can be found here.
Another area of concern is the links between the European Union and Israel over security equipment.
Further information
A background briefing covering UK-Israel military links was produced by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for a Lobby of Parliament in November 2011.
Stop Arms Sales to and from Israel
Because Israel is now such a major exporter as well as importer of arms, CAAT is calling for an embargo on the sale of all UK equipment to and purchases from Israel as well as the breaking off of all military contacts. This would send a strong message to the Israeli government that its actions are totally unacceptable.
Campaign Postcard
That licences for key equipment being used by Israel are no longer being approved does not lessen the urgent need for a total embargo on all military equipment sales destined for Israel, including components. Such an embargo would send a strong message of disapproval of Israel's actions. It would also facilitate informed debate within as the UK and parliamentarians and the public would know what the situation is.
Stop Arming Israel was set up in 2006 by CAAT, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and War on Want to campaign for an embargo on sales of military equipment to and from Israel.
A Stop Arming Israel postcard to send to MPs is available to order free from office(at)caat·org·uk.
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