The British government has given in to pressure and suspended 30 arms export licences to Israel
Is this email not displaying correctly? View in your browser ([link removed])
Hi John,
The British government has given in to pressure and suspended 30 licences which would have allowed UK companies to supply military components and weapons to Israel.[1] Nearly a year into Israel’s devastating campaign of violence in Gaza which has killed over 40,000 people, this decision is long overdue.[2]
This campaign breakthrough would not have been possible without such a large and diverse movement telling the government that we refuse to be complicit in Israel’s shocking attacks on Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets, demanding a ceasefire and an arms embargo, trade unionists have shut down production at arms factories, and many more have organised and petitioned leaders.[3]
But the fight is not over yet. One glaring omission appears to be the continued supply of F-35 fighter jet parts, with a loophole in the decision allowing delivery to Israel via export to the US. These are the aircraft that have allowed Israel to drop 2,000lb bombs on schools and refugee camps, killing dozens of people in one strike.[4] They also represent one of the UK’s largest contributions to Israel’s military. It seems clear the UK has failed to include this out of fear of upsetting the US government.
Will you share this message now to show we need a complete arms embargo on Israel?
[link removed]
Share on Facebook ([link removed])
Share on X (Twitter) ([link removed])
Share on Instagram ([link removed])
Or read and share our article in Al Jazeera ([link removed])
Make no mistake: this arms ban is a blow to the Israeli war machine – it will no longer be possible to import key components for F-16 jets, helicopters, drones and items which facilitate ground targeting, from the UK.
This move also applies pressure on Israel at a time when ceasefire talks continue to fail. The UK has been one of its staunchest allies throughout its horrific and relentless attacks on Gaza – so this ban, although incomplete, has important political value. We must make the most of this.
Right now, we need to tell the government that anything less than a full ban on weapons sales to Israel, a country under investigation for genocide, is horribly insufficient.[5] If the UK continues to support the delivery of F-35 fighter jets, described by their manufacturer as “the most lethal” in the world, it clearly risks maintaining the UK’s complicity in war crimes.
And we also need to ramp up the pressure on our leaders to use all available means to stop Israel’s attacks on Gaza. At the moment, the UK is not using every lever it has. In fact, in July the trade secretary announced he was seeking to deepen relations with Israel by starting talks over a new free trade deal – as we said at the time, rather than applying more pressure, this risks rewarding Israel for its war crimes.[6]
Will you share this message?
Share on Facebook ([link removed])
Share on X (Twitter) ([link removed])
Share on Instagram ([link removed])
Or read and share our article in Al Jazeera ([link removed])
This suspension of key weapons licences is an important step – and determined political organising and campaigning has made it possible. But as Israel continues to rain down bombs on Gaza, there is much more to do.
Thank you for all your support.
Tim Bierley
Campaigner, Global Justice Now
Notes
1. UK suspends 30 arms export licences to Israel after review ([link removed]) , Guardian, 12 September 2024
2. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in 10 months of war in Gaza ([link removed]) , health ministry says, CNN, 16 Aug 2024
3. UK factories help build the jets used by the Israeli military. They should be stopped ([link removed]) , Guardian, 11 December 2024
4. Government exempts F-35 from export licence suspension ([link removed]) , Campaign Against Arms Trade, 3 September 2024
5. What is South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ? ([link removed]) BBC, 24 May 2024
6. UK’s Pursuit of Closer Trade Ties With Israel Risks Rewarding it for War Crimes ([link removed]) , Byline Times, 6 August 2024
** At Global Justice Now we’re proud to be outspoken
------------------------------------------------------------
We take on issues that others are afraid to touch and we don’t make compromises.
By joining us, you can fight for regulations that put people before profit, and build public pressure against corporate greed.
Become a member and join others standing up to injustice.
Join today ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
This email was sent by Global Justice Now, which you are receiving because you most probably signed up on our website, took a campaign action or attended one of our events. If you no longer want to receive our emails you can
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
Our mailing address is:
Global Justice Now
66 Offley Road, London SW9 0LS
Phone: 020 7820 4900
Global Justice Now: company no 2098198
Global Justice Now Trust: registered charity no 1064066, company no 3188734
============================================================
