KEIR Starmer has been accused of attempting to “hide the discussion” he had with Benjamin Netanyahu about arms sales to Israel.
The UK Prime Minister spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Tuesday afternoon, with a UK Government read-out of the call saying he had offered “personal thanks for the work done by the Israeli government” after a ceasefire was agreed with Hamas.
However, it did not mention any talk of weapons exports.
In September, Labour blocked around 30 of 350 licences for arms exports to Israel over concerns that they would be used to breach international humanitarian law. However, it continued to supply parts for F-35s, a policy which is facing a High Court challenge from human rights groups.
But an Israeli statement stated that Netanyahu raised the issue of the blocked export licences directly with Starmer.
“Prime Minister Starmer said that an evaluation of the issue is being carried out,” it read.
Downing Street could not say why the UK account of Keir Starmer’s call with Benjamin Netanyahu differed to Israel’s, when asked.
On the frozen arms export licences, a No 10 spokesman said: “We’ve been consistent in saying that we keep these things under review. Clearly, the maintenance of that ceasefire is a priority.”
But the Scottish Greens have now told The National that this is “not a small issue” that could have been missed by accident.
"It is utterly shameful that arms sold by the UK have been used as part of a horrific campaign of collective punishment against a civilian population,” co-leader Lorna Slater (above) said.
“The UK’s Prime Minister should not be hiding discussions of those sales from a public who have consistently shown support for a full ban on arms exports to Israel.”
The Green MSP added: “These weapons should never have been sold in the first place and, with hopes of a ceasefire, it is vital that we don’t return to exporting weapons to an Israeli government that has been widely accused of some of the worst war crimes of this century.”
No 10 could also not say whether the ceasefire may lead to a change in the Government’s position on the suspended licences.
