Stephen has written to the International Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, asking that the Government re-think its policy of selling weapons to Israel.
During the violence last spring, Stephen supported calls for the Government to report to Parliament with an assessment of the use of any exported arms and equipment in the conflict and for it to examine the risks involved in any future arms sales to the Israeli security forces. This has not happened.
The Government’s latest annual report on export licensing decisions, which covers 2020, lists 109 licences for military goods, worth £27.8 million, issued between 1 January and 31 December 2020. Despite these figures, the Government has repeatedly said that it takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and that it considers all export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework.
Having sent his letter, Stephen said: “I believe we need a new arms export regime that is truly transparent, free from arbitrary political judgments and reflects our commitment to upholding international law.
“I would have liked to see Government Ministers review what type of weapons the UK sells to Israel, and whether there is a risk they will be used to violate international law. If Ministers find that is the case, then they have not just a moral duty to stop those arms sales, but a legal requirement to do so as well.”