James Brian O’Burnham

Some of responses to the UK govt's decision on Israel arms licences are fevered. 1) The previous government made clear licences were always under review. There has been a review and clear legal advice. The new government is acting accordingly. If HMG ignored it that would be tantamount to the UK saying it was unconcerned about potential IHL breaches and potentially break the law itself. 2) The idea that this is a great insult to the people of Israel is questionable, at best. It ignores the actual politics of Israel right now, including the substantial number of people in Israel who want a ceasefire/hostage agreement (and have just had a general strike to that effect) and/or disagree with the Netanyahu position. That includes the hostage families. To argue that somehow this makes the UK opposed to Israel itself, or is abandoning Israel given UK's wider strategic support is absurd. 3) The argument about timing is understandable. But there is a bloody war going in Gaza. The timing would never be ideal. Palestinians/Israeli soldiers are dying every day. Again, suggesting it shouldn't happen because it was the day of the hostages' funerals is to elide those families with the Israeli's government, to suggest they are one and the same. That is especially darkly ironic when we remember it is those families who have spearheaded the opposition to BN.