Politics
Foreign Office official quits over government’s refusal to ban arms sales to Israel
Labour MP urges government to impose an arms embargo
August 19, 2024 11:44
Labour MP urges government to impose an arms embargo
August 19, 2024 11:44A foreign office official has resigned over the government’s unwillingness to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
According to the Observer, Mark Smith, who is understood to be a counter-terrorism official in the UK’s embassy in Dublin, said he was resigning after having concerns over arms sales to Israel rebuffed by the department.
He said in his resignation letter that there was “no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel, yet somehow it continues”.
He continued, “Ministers claim that the UK has one of the most ‘robust and transparent’ arms export licensing regimes in the world, however this is the opposite of the truth. As a fully cleared officer raising serious concerns of illegality in this department, to be disregarded in this way is deeply troubling. It is my duty as a public servant to raise this.”
Labour MP John McDonnell, who served as shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, urged the government to act on Smith’s concerns.
This evidences the deep seated concerns civil servants have had not just about the morality & legality of selling arms to Israel but also the complicity of the UK government in the war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Force. End the sales now. https://t.co/SXP9ddvU46
— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) August 18, 2024
He posted on X/Twitter: “This evidences the deep seated concerns civil servants have had not just about the morality & legality of selling arms to Israel but also the complicity of the UK government in the war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Force. End the sales now.”
Before Parliament rose for recess last month, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that any change on the UK’s stance on exporting arms to Israel would only occur after “careful assessments of the law”.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told the JC: “This government is committed to upholding international law. We have made clear that we will not export items if they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.
“There is an ongoing review process to assess whether Israel is complying with International Humanitarian Law, which the Foreign Secretary initiated on day 1 in office. We will provide an update as soon as that review process has been completed.”
However, several defence experts, including former Labour defence minister John Spellar, told the JC that an arms embargo against Israel could be damaging for the UK.
A Labour Friends of Israel spokesperson told the JC: “As ministers have recognised, Israel has a right to defend itself against the ongoing and indiscriminate attacks perpetrated by Iran and its proxies Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Any restriction on sales would hinder that vital objective.”