World
US ‘lobbied Britain to drop Israel arms export ban’
An American official said the UK had shown ‘moral clarity’ by banning weapons licences for the Jewish state
September 12, 2024 09:20
An American official said the UK had shown ‘moral clarity’ by banning weapons licences for the Jewish state
September 12, 2024 09:20The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is reported to asked Foreign Secretary David Lammy on the phone two weeks before the UK announced its ban on arms exports to Israel what it would take for the British government to reconsider the decision.
On September 2, Lammy said that Britain would suspend 30 out of a total of 350 weapon export licences to Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision as “shameful,” while White House sources were reported to have felt “let down” by the decision.
According to two US officials who spoke to Politico, Lammy spoke to Anthony Blinken on the phone two weeks earlier to brief him on the move.
The US official is said to have asked what it would take for the British government to reconsider the decision.
Lammy is reported to have told America’s secretary of state that he would reconsider restricting arms sales to Israel if they agreed a ceasefire with Hamas and allowed a human rights group to visit jailed Palestinians.
Israel stands accused of subjecting such prisoners to torture and degrading treatment at facilities including Sde Teiman, a military base in the Negev desert.
Last month, CCTV footage from the site broadcast by an Israeli television channel allegedly showed IDF soldiers raping one male prisoner as a dog barked at him.
"We have seen the video, and reports of sexual abuse of detainees are horrific. They ought to be investigated fully by the government of Israel, by the IDF,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at the time.
"There ought to be zero tolerance for sexual abuse, rape of any detainee, period.”
Blinken’s tone during his call with Lammy was cordial, Politico reported. He is said to have told Lammy that the US was also assessing Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Rather than pressuring Lammy, the outlet said, Blinken was genuinely interested in how UK policy might change.
Asked about the conversation, the British embassy in Washington told Politico: “We hope to see sustained evidence of Israel’s commitment to [international humanitarian law] that would allow us to lift this suspension.”
The State Department declined to comment.
A third US official, who was also familiar with the discussion, told Politico: “At least the Brits are willing to call it like it is, which leadership here appears unwilling to do despite being presented with all the same information about Israeli IHL violations.
“Leadership misses the fact that if we showed the same moral and legal clarity as the UK … it would give us more leverage for a ceasefire deal, not less.”
Britain suspended arms licences after Foreign Office lawyers reviewed Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
There was a clear risk, the government said, certain military exports could be used to commit war crimes.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan KC, has requested an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
They have been accused of ordering the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, murder, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population, and extermination.
Announcing the decision, Lammy said it had been taken on evidence concerning the treatment of Palestinian prisoners and restrictions of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We have not – and could not – arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law,” he said. “This is a forward-looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt. And it does not prejudge any future determinations by the competent courts.”