He probably thought he was being clever – but Keir Starmer blundered in his defence of Israel arms sales.
In a debate on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks that triggered Israel’s decision to commit genocide in Gaza, the Labour prime minister admitted that that country is using the arms exported to it from the UK for aggressive, offensive purposes, rather than for defence.
Otherwise, when suspended former Labour MP Zarah Sultana asked, “Will he do what is morally and legally right and end the Government’s complicity in war crimes by banning all arms sales to Israel?” he would not have answered the way he did.
He responded, bluntly, “No. Banning all sales would mean none for defensive purposes.”
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And is it not also an admission that the UK’s sales to Israel are made regardless of how the weapons will eventually be used, making a mockery of the reason the government suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel (slightly fewer than 10 per cent of them)?
The reason given then was that the weapons could be used in Gaza to violate international law. Now, it seems, we find the arms that are still being exported are going there for the same reason.
Also, of course, the UK’s arms sales amounted to just one per cent of Israel’s imported weaponry, even when those 30 suspended licences were active. It isn’t as though Israel would not have enough with which to defend itself if the UK cancelled the other 320.
Starmer is making a symbolic show of support here. He knows that withdrawing all arms sales to Israel would send out a very clear message that the UK opposes that country’s slaughter of its Middle East neighbours (as most of us do), that may encourage others to do the same.
So instead of opposing the genocide, he continues to make us all accessories to that vile crime.
Source: Starmer’s blunt response to suspended Labour MP’s question on Israel arms sales
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Starmer blundered in his defence of Israel arms sales
He probably thought he was being clever – but Keir Starmer blundered in his defence of Israel arms sales.
In a debate on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks that triggered Israel’s decision to commit genocide in Gaza, the Labour prime minister admitted that that country is using the arms exported to it from the UK for aggressive, offensive purposes, rather than for defence.
Otherwise, when suspended former Labour MP Zarah Sultana asked, “Will he do what is morally and legally right and end the Government’s complicity in war crimes by banning all arms sales to Israel?” he would not have answered the way he did.
He responded, bluntly, “No. Banning all sales would mean none for defensive purposes.”
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
And is it not also an admission that the UK’s sales to Israel are made regardless of how the weapons will eventually be used, making a mockery of the reason the government suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel (slightly fewer than 10 per cent of them)?
The reason given then was that the weapons could be used in Gaza to violate international law. Now, it seems, we find the arms that are still being exported are going there for the same reason.
Also, of course, the UK’s arms sales amounted to just one per cent of Israel’s imported weaponry, even when those 30 suspended licences were active. It isn’t as though Israel would not have enough with which to defend itself if the UK cancelled the other 320.
Starmer is making a symbolic show of support here. He knows that withdrawing all arms sales to Israel would send out a very clear message that the UK opposes that country’s slaughter of its Middle East neighbours (as most of us do), that may encourage others to do the same.
So instead of opposing the genocide, he continues to make us all accessories to that vile crime.
Source: Starmer’s blunt response to suspended Labour MP’s question on Israel arms sales
Vox Political needs your help!
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2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Join the uPopulus group at https://upopulus.com/groups/vox-political/
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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