UK Foreign Secretary David Lamy announced last September that the UK government had suspended around 30 of the 350 arms licenses granted to Israel, including a separate embargo on parts for the F-35 fighter jet.
The UK High Court has ruled that the UK government did not break the law by selling F-35 fighter jet parts to a consortium with Israel.
The issue was challenged in court by the West Bank-based rights group Al-Haq, which argues that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate international law and that it is unethical for the UK government to supply parts to Israel under such circumstances.
However, the judges made it clear that the final decision on participation in such consortia is not the job of the courts, but rather the executive branch of government.
Last September, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the UK government had cancelled up to 30 of the approximately 350 arms licenses granted to Israel. Meanwhile, a special decision was made regarding F-35 aircraft parts.
“This is a highly complex, sensitive and politically sensitive matter. Such matters are not within the purview of the courts, but are, under democratic rules, accountable to the executive, to parliament and ultimately to the people (voters),” the judges said in their ruling.
Amnesty UK said in a statement that it was “deeply disappointing” to hear the verdict.