UK resistance mounting against arms sales to 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Consortium News
5 Apr 2024 16:51

London's mayor, along with 50 Labour MPs and Winston Churchill's grandson, have joined increasing calls to challenge Israeli lack of accountability.

UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the steps of 10 Downing Street in central London on March 24, 2023, ahead of their meeting. (AFP)

Even Winston Churchill's grandson is advocating for Britain to cease supplying arms to "Israel", That's the take offered by Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Consortium News.

Conservative peer Lord Nicholas Soames stated that it's time for Britain to halt arms shipments to "Israel", particularly following the killing of seven international aid workers this week.

The sentiment against unquestioned support for "Israel" is spreading within British ruling circles, fueled by leaked audio recordings revealing the government's disregard for legal advice warning against supplying weapons to "Israel" for its ongoing genocide.

Over 600 British lawyers, academics, and retired senior judges, including three Supreme Court justices, have urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to end military aid and consider sanctions against top Israeli leaders.

The rebellion is evident across major political parties, with the Labour Party experiencing internal turmoil as London's mayor and 50 Labour MPs called for an end to arming an entity increasingly exposed for its actions. Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized the need to hold the Israeli government accountable and insisted that arms sales to "Israel" be paused immediately.

The dissent is spreading across major political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, who recently urged No. 10's ethics advisor to investigate whether UK arms sales violate Britain's ministerial code, emphasizing the importance of not being complicit in breaches of international humanitarian law, as reported by The Guardian.

Labour leader Keir Starmer, while attempting to unify his party on this issue, has only demanded the release of the legal advice mentioned in leaked audio recordings.

In 2023, Britain exported £42 million worth of weapons to "Israel", with figures since October 7 last year yet to be disclosed. A British decision to break ties with "Israel" over Gaza would carry significant political implications beyond the monetary value of arms transfers.

Growing Dissent: Calls to halt arms sales to "Israel" gain traction in British politics

Discontent is emerging within the ruling Conservative Party as well, the report added. Alongside Churchill's grandson, Lord Hugo Swire and three Tory MPs - Paul Bristow, Flick Drummond, and David Jones - are calling for an end to arms shipments.

Sir Alan Duncan, who faced criticism from supporters of Julian Assange for his role in orchestrating Assange's arrest in April 2019, is under investigation by the Conservative Party for potential "anti-Semitic" remarks. He raised concerns about pro-"Israel" Tory "extremists" and urged for their identification, including those in prominent government positions.

Duncan, a former minister in Theresa May's Conservative government, criticized the influence of "Conservative Friends of Israel," accusing them of serving the interests of Benjamin Netanyahu and exerting a disproportionate influence on government affairs.

David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, current Foreign Secretary, and potential future Tory leader, is allegedly facing pressure from within the party from those labeled as "extremists" due to his perceived lack of unwavering support for "Israel". Despite previously referring to Gaza as an "open-air prison" during his tenure as PM, Cameron's criticism has become more tempered. However, he is reportedly experiencing internal party pressure as a result.

The British establishment, spanning across both political parties, is experiencing significant internal division regarding Israeli actions in Gaza and Britain's involvement.

In Lauria's view, this debate should have commenced promptly, ideally within days of the Israeli assault, rather than months later. Nonetheless, it indicates a troubling shift away from unwavering support for an entity that can no longer rely on the historical persecution of its people 80 years ago to justify its actions.

In a phone call on Thursday, President Joe Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that future US support for Israeli military operations could be contingent on how "Israel" treats Palestinian civilians.

Biden faces a significant risk of losing re-election primarily due to his unpopular Gaza policy, which even a majority of Democrats disapprove of. He is deviating from his natural political instincts, which typically prioritize winning at any cost. When do Biden's political maneuvers become concerning enough to be considered significant misconduct?, questions Lauria.

"When he tells Netanyahu: “No more money and no more guns.” But even “no more presidency” doesn’t seem to have yet convinced Biden to say that," Lauria concluded.