Britain on Monday rejected Emmanuel Macron’s call for an arms embargo on Israel.
Defence Secretary John Healey made clear that the UK was not going to join the stance from France amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
Asked whether Britain backed the French president’s move, Mr Healey said: “No, we work a different system.
“We as a Government don’t supply anything directly to Israel.
“But where there are export licences that have a clear risk that may breach international law then we suspended those licences where they could affect lives in Gaza.”
The Cabinet minister added on Sky News: “The most important thing for all of us today is that we redouble our efforts, the Middle East simply can’t afford another year like the last...
“We must redouble our efforts now to reduce the risk of wider war, of an escalation.”
He explained further: “We must secure a ceasefire in Lebanon that allows the UN plan for a separation zone between the Israelis and Lebanese Hezbollah to be put in place, and a ceasefire in Gaza so we can get all of the hostages out, we can flood the area with aid, and we can start to see the sort of dialogue that could lead in the long term, to a long-term settlement and peace, a two-state solution so Palestinians do have their own state and Israeli can live also in peace and security”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with Mr Macron on Sunday, his office said, and told him that placing restrictions on Israel will just serve Iran and its proxies.
The French president said on Saturday that shipments of arms to Israel used in the war in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution to the conflict.
“Just as Iran supports all parts of the Iranian terror axis, so are Israel’s friends expected to support it, and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,” Mr Netanyahu told Mr Macron, according to a statement from his office.
Israel has sharply escalated its attacks on Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in recent weeks, following a year of lower level cross-border conflict waged in parallel with Israel’s war against Palestinian militants Hamas, also backed by Iran, after the October 7 attacks on Israel last year.
Britain has told its citizens to leave Lebanon and put on charter flights to help them get out as the conflict escalates.
The UK Government announced in September that it was suspending around 30 arms export licences to Israel amid concerns a “clear risk” exists that they could be used to breach international humanitarian law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a review conducted by the UK Government could not “arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law” in Gaza, but ministers have a legal duty to review export licences.
Mr Lammy stressed that the criteria state the Government will not issue export licences if there is a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law”.
The suspension of around 30 arms export licences was from a total of approximately 350 to Israel.
But appeals from the West, and other countries, for the conflict in the Middle East to be de-escalated, have fallen on deaf ears.
Asked whether the last year showed that the US, Britain and the United Nations do not "really have any influence" over the region, Defence Secretary Mr Healey told BBC Breakfast: "Well, I've had detailed discussions with the defence minister in Israel, Yoav Gallant.
“I've said to him that Israel must do more to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza, the level of those civilian deaths has been intolerable but we're also recognising the right of Israel to be able to defend itself against these terror attacks and against Iran as a country that is sponsoring this terror across the Middle East.
"And yes, of course diplomacy is difficult. There are setbacks, but we are determined that we will continue because that, in the end, is the only way to bring an end to fighting and an end to the anguish that we mark today."
