Legal threat over arms exports to Israelis

C A MPAI G NERS have threatened the Government with legal action over its export of military equipment to Israel.

A law firm acting on behalf of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has written to Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills Vince Cable claiming the present policy could be illegal.

Leigh Day said that it had been instructed to consider applying to the High Court for a Judicial Review unless sales of equipment that could be used in action against Gaza were halted.

A review of existing export licences ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron amid pressure from the Liberal Democrats and others over the violence in Gaza found 12 were for components which could be part of equipment used by the Israel Defence Forces in its offensive against Hamas.

With both sides presently observing a ceasefire, Mr Cable signalled that they will be suspended in the event of the “resumption of significant hostilities”.

But CAAT claims no proper definition has been given of that threshold or of whether any of the materials which have already been exported may have been used in illegal acts.

“The concept of a ‘resumption of significant hostilities’ is not defined or explained nor, indeed, is the rationale for such a threshold given that conduct occurring outside significant hostilities (such as a single airstrike) could equally violate international humanitarian law or human rights law,” the lawyers’ letter to Mr Cable said.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said it would consider the letter and respond in due course.