Britain's Prime Minister's Office yesterday announced that the UK government is reviewing all license given to companies to export arms to Israel to ensure that they are appropriate.
This is the latest sign that the UK government is taking a more aggressive approach against Israel over Operation Protective Edge. British cabinet ministers continue to assert "Israel's right to defend itself" but in recent days there has been growing criticism by cabinet ministers of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its management of the Gaza conflict. UK Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that he supported the UN statement that labelled Israeli shelling of a school in Gaza as a "moral outrage."
Cameron said, "International law is very clear. Use of force must always be proportionate."
Most of the UK's £8 billion in arms contracts with Israel that are currently being reviewed involve supply of encryption programs and military communications equipment as well as weapons parts.
Opponents of the arms sales point to £42 million worth of contracts with 130 British companies including two companies that provide components for the Hermes drones and another company which sells parts for Israel's main battle tanks.
However, no ministers are calling for a general embargo of arm sales to Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2014
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