Politics
Chief Rabbi says Israel arms suspension ‘beggars belief’
UK Jewish leaders voice ‘deep disappointment’ with government
September 2, 2024 20:10
UK Jewish leaders voice ‘deep disappointment’ with government
September 2, 2024 20:10Jewish and pro-Israel groups reacted with disappointment to the government’s announcement that it would suspend some arms sales to Israel.
The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) said in a statement that “Today’s decision to restrict the export of arms to Israel is deeply disappointing. Today, when the bodies of the six murdered hostages are still being buried, it is more important than ever for the UK to stand by its ally Israel.
“No one should forget the reason Israel is currently at war. 322 days ago, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to murder, maim, torture, rape, and kidnap. On that day, Israeli civilians waited for the IDF to rescue them from this ordeal. In the 11 months since then, Israel has faced continued threats on its borders as Hamas continues to threaten from Gaza while Hezbollah struck from Lebanon and the Houthis sought to expand the conflict further from Yemen.”
It continued, “In April, Iran itself joined its proxies when it launched a major offensive against Israel. We were proud to see British jets in the sky that day protecting Israel against this assault. However, Israel’s day to day defence against these terrorist actors cannot solely rely on such interventions. This is not the time to be taking action which will limit Israel’s ability to defend itself.
Our statement on the Government's decision today to institute a partial arms sales suspension against Israel: pic.twitter.com/WKJNNxnVRv
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) September 2, 2024
The Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said that the organisation “relayed our deep concern to the Government at the highest levels, about the decision, and its timing today, to institute a partial arms sales suspension against Israel.”
He also said that, “The move, made on the day of the funerals of Israeli hostages murdered in cold blood by Hamas, risks sending a dangerous message to Hamas and other adversaries of the UK that they can commit appalling atrocities – condemned by the UK government – and yet still see Israel castigated.”
He went on to say that he hoped “that ongoing engagement between Israel and the UK will see this decision reviewed at the earliest opportunity, and we will continue discussions with both governments to this effect.”
It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six…
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) September 2, 2024
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis posted on X/Twitter that “It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families.”
He added that, “this announcement will serve to encourage our shared enemies. It will not help to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, nor contribute to the peaceful future we wish and pray for, for all people in the region and beyond.”
A spokesperson for Labour Friends of Israel told the JC that, “We do not believe that restrictions on UK arms sales will help bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to a close or help ensure the release of the hostages, six of whom Hamas brutally murdered just days ago. Moreover, we are deeply concerned by the signal this sends to Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of state terrorism and Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine. We fear therefore that these restrictions risk encouraging Israel’s enemies, leading to greater escalation rather than de-escalation.”
In Parliament today, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the decision to suspend around 30 for around 350 arms export licenses was taken because “there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
However, he said that this was “not an arms embargo” and that the government’s decision would not “have a material impact on Israel’s security.”
The F35 fighter jet programme, in which Israel is a participant along with the UK, United States and 19 countries, was unaffected by the UK’s announcement. Lammy told the House of Commons that “the effects of suspending all licences for the F35 programme would undermine the global F35 supply chain that is vital for the security of the UK, our allies, and Nato.”