The UK authorities has drastically decreased approval of arms export licenses to Israel for the reason that begin of the struggle in Gaza, “Reuters” reviews, primarily based on knowledge supplied by British authorities officers and figures from the Division for Enterprise and Commerce’s Export Management unit. The UK, along with Germany, are among the many solely international locations in Europe that haven’t imposed an arms embargo on Israel and suspended weapons gross sales.
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The worth of permits issued for the sale of army gear to Israel between October 7 and the tip of 2023 fell by 95% of the typical over the previous 20 years, and was a 13-year low.
In monetary phrases the UK issued arms export licenses value simply $1.09 million between October 7 and December 31 2023. Within the corresponding interval of 2022, the UK issued licenses value $23 million, together with mild weapons, ammunition and spare elements for fight plane. In 2017, the UK accepted $210 million in arms gross sales to Israel together with elements for tanks and surface-to-air missiles.
Most of the licenses accepted within the interval after the beginning of the struggle in Gaza, “Reuters” reviews, have been for objects listed for “business use” or non-lethal objects resembling physique armor, army helmets and all-wheel drive automobiles with ballistic safety.
In latest months, the UK authorities has come below stress from pro-Palestinian teams to impose an arms embargo on Israel. UK Overseas Ministry officers even threatened to take action if Israel invaded Rafah and carried out a big army operation there.
Over the previous month, the UK place appeared to vary with Overseas Minister David Cameron saying that the nation wouldn’t impose an arms embargo on Israel. Publication of in any other case categorised knowledge by “Reuters” could possibly be interpreted as an try by the UK authorities to introduce a “de facto” embargo, though refraining from saying it. In line with Cameron, an inside inspection by the UK Overseas Ministry has to this point discovered no proof of the fee of struggle crimes that might require the British authorities to halt arms shipments to Israel.
Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on June 18, 2024.
© Copyright of Globes Writer Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.
