By Mehmet Solmaz
BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) – The UK has “no particular appetite” to stop issuing licenses to export F-35 fighter jet parts – parts that are used in Israel’s ongoing 14-month deadly offensive on Palestinians – the British defense minister said Tuesday.
Asked about arms exports to Israel, which many activists say should be halted in light of the nearly 45,000 people already killed by Israel’s genocidal campaign, Vernon Coaker told Parliament’s Business and Trade Committee that any changes to the F-35 program must take place through discussions and agreements with all the partner nations taking part in the fighter jet’s international collaboration agreement.
Stephen Lillie, director for defense and international security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, told the committee that “there's a constant review going on” at various defense programs and that F-35 could also be included into one of these reviews.
Stephen Doughty, the minister of state for Europe, North America and overseas territories, said a previous decision to impose bans on exports to Israel of certain defense products was taken by considering the “mistreatment of Palestinian detainees” and Israel’s “inadequate” supply of humanitarian needs to civilians.
When pressed by some lawmakers, Doughty confirmed that the Israeli hostilities and destruction were not part of the consideration when the sanctions were imposed.
On Sept. 2, the British government announced that it was suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel after a review, warning there is a clear risk that certain UK arms exports to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The 30 licenses cover components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and items that facilitate ground targeting, excluding UK components for the F-35 fighter jet program.