Is the UK’s arms suspension on Israel a meaningful shift?
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 749 Ratings
🗓️ 6 September 2024
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing a "clear risk" of violating international law. However, campaigners say it’s not enough. With massive protests and resignations over Gaza, does this signal a real shift in UK-Israel relations, or is it just a token gesture?
In this episode:
- Nick Dearden (@nickdearden75), Director of Global Justice Now
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, and Tamara Khandaker, with Shraddha Joshi, Hagir Saleh, Duha Mosaad, Phillip Lanos, Hisham Abu Salah, and our host Malika Bilal.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.
Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, the UK hits the breaks, sort of, on arms to Israel. |
| 0:16.0 | We've got to take this as a victory. |
| 0:18.0 | It's only a partial victory, but it is a victory nonetheless. |
| 0:20.0 | It's important. What's only a partial victory, but it is a victory nonetheless. It's important. |
| 0:23.4 | What's London signaling with that move? |
| 0:28.0 | I'm Malika Bilal, and this is the take. |
| 0:41.3 | Here's how the UK government announced a major change in its support for Israel's war on Gaza, with contrition and at length. |
| 0:44.3 | It is with regret that I inform the House today. |
| 0:48.3 | The assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports |
| 0:58.0 | to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious |
| 1:06.0 | violation of international humanitarian law. Foreign Secretary David Lammy went on to assure Israel, he's not a foe. |
| 1:14.4 | Throughout my life, I have been a friend of Israel, a liberal, progressive Zionist who believes |
| 1:20.0 | in Israel as a democratic state and a homeland for the Jewish people. |
| 1:24.4 | The partial arms ban affects parts for fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, but not F-35 |
| 1:29.9 | jets, which some watchdog groups say are being used to bomb Gaza. This was not done by convincing |
| 1:36.6 | some individuals in this ministry. It was done under extreme pressure. They really felt they |
| 1:41.6 | didn't have any option, but to do at least this. And we have to make |
| 1:45.1 | sure they go further. My name is Nick Dearden. I run a campaign organization called Global Justice Now, |
| 1:52.5 | and we are fighting for a more fair, equal and peaceful world. Love the sound of that. Nick, |
| 1:57.8 | welcome to the take. Let's start with what happened in the UK Parliament |
| 2:01.4 | this week. Foreign Secretary David Lammy made waves when he stood in front of the parliament on Monday |
... |
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