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UK should suspend arms licences if Gaza violence resumes, says Nick Clegg UK should suspend arms licences if Gaza violence resumes, says Nick Clegg
(about 2 hours later)
Britain should suspend the sale of all military equipment to Israel if the current ceasefire in Gaza breaks down and immediately revoke any licences for arms that have been used in the conflict, Nick Clegg has said. Britain should suspend the sale of all military equipment to Israel if the current ceasefire in Gaza breaks down, and immediately revoke any licences for arms that have been used in the conflict, Nick Clegg has said.
The deputy prime minister said these two issues were under discussion by the government as the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas moved into its final day.The deputy prime minister said these two issues were under discussion by the government as the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas moved into its final day.
Clegg has made clear already that he favours an arms embargo, but he set out his thinking more clearly in his weekly LBC 97.3 radio phone-in on Thursday.Clegg has made clear already that he favours an arms embargo, but he set out his thinking more clearly in his weekly LBC 97.3 radio phone-in on Thursday.
"We must respect the strict criteria laid down in law," he said. "We must look at what's happened in Gaza to see if those criteria were breached … If it's shown those criteria were breached, then never mind suspending those licences, they would have to be revoked.""We must respect the strict criteria laid down in law," he said. "We must look at what's happened in Gaza to see if those criteria were breached … If it's shown those criteria were breached, then never mind suspending those licences, they would have to be revoked."
Clegg said no new arms export licences had been issued during the past month of violence but there could be a complete suspension if Israel and Hamas returned to violence.Clegg said no new arms export licences had been issued during the past month of violence but there could be a complete suspension if Israel and Hamas returned to violence.
"We now have a truce. I think it is crystal clear and it would be unacceptable and wholly wrong for us to do anything other than suspend those licences if that ceasefire were to come to an end and violence were to break out again," he said."We now have a truce. I think it is crystal clear and it would be unacceptable and wholly wrong for us to do anything other than suspend those licences if that ceasefire were to come to an end and violence were to break out again," he said.
Senior Conservatives figures including Andrew Mitchell and Sayeeda Warsi, who resigned as a foreign minister over the crisis, have said there must be an embargo. Senior Conservative figures including Andrew Mitchell and Sayeeda Warsi, who resigned as a foreign minister over the crisis, have said there must be an embargo.
David Cameron is under pressure to take stronger action against Israel after the UN condemned its shelling outside a school as a moral outrage. He has not so far joined Clegg or Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, in saying Israel's actions in Gaza have been disproportionate. David Cameron is under pressure to take stronger action against Israel after the UN condemned its shelling of a school as a moral outrage. He has not so far joined Clegg or Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, in saying Israel's actions in Gaza have been disproportionate.
The total value of controlled export licences to Israel – which can be for commercial or military use – was worth around £8bn last year. The government and campaigners agree that the vast bulk of this – around £7.75bn – is for commercial equipment, mostly cryptographic software to supply Israel's mobile phone networks.The total value of controlled export licences to Israel – which can be for commercial or military use – was worth around £8bn last year. The government and campaigners agree that the vast bulk of this – around £7.75bn – is for commercial equipment, mostly cryptographic software to supply Israel's mobile phone networks.
Documents obtained by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that since 2010 there have been £42m worth of licences to export military-only equipment to Israel.Documents obtained by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that since 2010 there have been £42m worth of licences to export military-only equipment to Israel.
Licences granted in the past year include a wide range of hardware, from components for naval guns and drones to ammunition, submarines and combat aircraft parts.Licences granted in the past year include a wide range of hardware, from components for naval guns and drones to ammunition, submarines and combat aircraft parts.