#StopArmingIsrael

UK Government #StopArmingIsrael

The British government must stop funding Israeli war crimes by cancelling its arms export licenses to Israel.

Take Action

Write

Write to tell Alistair Burt, Minister of State for the Middle East to Stop Arming Israel

 

 

Edit the suggested letter below before sending.

I am writing to you to express my deep concern at the role the British arms industry is playing in fuelling the Israel-Palestine conflict and to call on the government to cancel all arms export licenses to Israel.

The UK government has approved over £490 million worth of arms exports to Israel since 2014, including components for sniper rifles, grenade launchers and armed drones similar to those used against unarmed Palestinians this year. It has also included a swathe of larger weapons including F-35 Jets - which have been used in numerous bombing campaigns over Gaza.

The United Kingdom’s government rightly emphasises human rights on the world stage, yet the insufficient oversight of UK arms sales is fuelling violations of international law and directly contributing to the suffering of the Palestinian people.

While the government claims the UK has “the most robust export controls in the world” this is contradicted by a situation in which arms are being exported against the criteria set out in the rules. Applications are considered against criteria which state that sales should be refused if there is even a risk that weapons would be used for violations of international law, for “internal repression” or to “assert by force a territorial claim”. In the case of the Israeli administration’s current military activities it appears highly likely that such violations are taking place

If the government is to live up to its own words it must implement a comprehensive and immediate ban on arms sales to Israel, rather than simply standing by while innocent people are killed by weapons produced in the UK.

Alistair Burt

Story

FOA volunteers seen at a protest calling for the UK government to stop arming Israel

UK Government #StopArmingIsrael

We are calling for the British government to stop funding Israeli war crimes by cancelling its arms export licenses to Israel. Currently the funds given to Israel as military aid are used to oppress Palestinians by using excessive and violent force, making their daily lives unbearable.

Downloads & Resources

FAQ

How much money has UK licenses provided Israel with in arms?

According to figures from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) the UK arms to Israel export was valued at £119 million between 2013 and 2016.

What do UK military exports / licenses to Israel include?

Military exports to Israel in 2016 included electronic warfare equipment such as missiles, with almost half the total spent was used on military aircraft, missiles, and radars and other control equipment. These controls assist in targeting missiles into Gaza, where on top of these military assaults, there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

What is the impact on Palestinians?

These weapons have caused over 39,512 injuries and 2,623 deaths of Palestinians in the last 3 years.  They have also permitted the systematic oppression of the Palestinians in their use by the Israeli military and police forces, who use these weapons violently towards Palestinians at checkpoints, on illegal house raids and in the prison system.

More Campaigns

#RebootYourEthics

Hewlett Packard (HP) install and maintain the control systems used in Israel’s checkpoints, provide technologies to both the Israeli Army and Navy, and produce bio-metric ID cards allowing Israel to monitor and restrict Palestinian movement.

We are not asking you to throw away your HP products. We are simply asking you to make a pledge to boycott HP products in the future.

Please sign the pledge and help us inform others about HP’s role in facilitating the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Find Out More

#CheckTheLabel

Israeli produce is often grown in illegal settlements in the West Bank which is exported to other countries, including the United Kingdom. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to trust where this produce is coming from, due to misleading labelling. We are asking consumers to #CheckTheLabel and boycott produce from Israel, West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

The boycotting of goods from illegal settlements produce is becoming well established. It is supported by the Co-operative, the Quakers, Amnesty International and the Trades Union Congress, alongside numerous organisations from across civil society.

However, there has long been calls for wider boycotting, as Israeli companies have been found to repeatedly breach food labelling regulations by labelling settlements goods as ‘produce of Israel’. Produce from the West Bank and the Jordan Valley are likely to be from illegal settlements.

Find Out More

#NotInMyFridge

FOA is calling for a boycott of Coca-Cola, in response to its support of Israel and its illegal and immoral occupation.

Coca-Cola violates international law and supports Israel’s occupation by operatinga bottling plant in Atarot and Shadmot Mehola illegal settlements in the Jordan Valley.

Buying from companies which work in settlements such as Coca Cola means we as consumers are turning a blind eye to the illegal settlement of Palestinian land.

Find Out More