UK court rejects Palestinian human rights group’s claim UK is illegally arming Israel
The UK government’s decision to give Israel parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment wasn’t illegal — despite knowing the components could be used to aid the Jewish state’s war in Gaza, London’s High Court ruled Monday.
Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group in the West Bank, had accused the British government of breaking domestic and international law in its decision to make F-35 parts exempt when it suspended some arms export licenses last year.
At the time, the government suspended roughly 30 of 350 export licenses for equipment — including parts for helicopters and drones — that was deemed to be for use in the Gaza war because of a “clear risk” the items could be used to violate international humanitarian law.
An exemption, though, was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets.
Al-Haq was quick to take legal action over what they claimed was a “deliberate loophole” — arguing the UK shouldn’t keep exporting parts given the government’s own assessment of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
The government noted the components manufactured in the UK were sent to assembly lines in the US, Italy and Japan that supply partners — including Israel — with jets and spare parts.
In dismissing the group’s challenge, High Court Judges Stephen Males and Karen Steyn ruled that the issue was one of national security because the parts were considered vital to that defense collaboration with the other countries.
They added it wasn’t up to the court to tell the government to withdraw from the group just because of the possibility the parts would be handed over to Israel and possibly used to violate international humanitarian law.
“Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts,” the judges wrote in the hefty 72-page judgment.
The government said the ruling showed it had some of the most rigorous export rules in the world.
“We will continue to keep our defense export licensing under careful and continual review,” a spokesperson said.
Al-Haq, meanwhile, said it was disappointed with the ruling but stopped short of saying whether it would seek permission to appeal.
“Despite the outcome of today, this case has centered the voice of the Palestinian people and has rallied significant public support, and it is just the start,” Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq, said in a statement.
“We continue on all fronts in our work to defend our collective human values and work towards achieving justice for the Palestinians.”
With Post wires