In Israel, there has been feverish speculation about the new Labour government’s readiness to impose a ban on UK arms sales to the country. Faced with escalating tensions in Lebanon, Britain is now reportedly delaying its decision, but that has done little to calm Israeli concern about what could happen if it did decide to go through with it. Although military exports to Israel were only estimated at £18.2m last year, an arms embargo is widely perceived as an appropriate and powerful means to register disapproval of Israel’s actions towards the Palestinians.
Following the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel, Keir Starmer, as the then leader of the opposition, stood firm in his support for Israel and initially resisted calls for a ceasefire. Yet the British public mood has turned against Israel owing to the increasingly harrowing humanitarian situation in Gaza and the number of Palestinian civilians who have been killed. Labour has already dropped its opposition to an international arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant. The UK has resumed payments to the UN Palestinian relief agency Unrwa. Yet it is the prospect of Britain suspending military exports to Israel that is particularly alarming for many Israelis. UK components are used in the F-35 fighter aircraft that Israel purchases from the United States, as well as in helicopters and radar equipment.
