The British government has rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion for an arms embargo on Israel, citing Israel’s right to self-defense in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
On Monday, British Defense Secretary John Healey dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent appeal to cease sending weapons to Israel. During an interview with Sky News, Healey indicated that the UK would not support Macron’s proposal because it operates under a different system for arms distribution.
This week marks a year since the attacks by Hamas on southern Israel, which prompted Israel’s military operation in Gaza. This action heightened tensions between Israel and neighboring Muslim countries that support the Palestinians. Earlier this month, concurrently, Israel initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon, while Iran launched a significant missile attack against the Jewish state.
In a Saturday interview with French media, Macron urged Western countries to “halt arms deliveries” to Israel and emphasized the need for a “political solution” in the Middle East. He also warned that Lebanon might become “a new Gaza.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly reacted on X, calling Macron’s statement a “disgrace” and asserting that Israel would prevail “with or without” Western support.
When asked about Macron’s proposal, Healey clarified that London would not back a complete arms embargo on Israel. He pointed out that his country has its own regulations governing weapons exports to the Jewish state.
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“The government does not directly supply anything to Israel, but export licenses that pose a clear risk of potentially violating international law have been suspended if they could impact lives in Gaza,” he explained. Healey was referring to the UK’s suspension of 30 out of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel last month, including those for fighter aircraft, helicopters, and drones. London justified this action by highlighting the “clear risk” that these items might be used in ways that breach international humanitarian law.
In the interview, Healey supported Macron’s appeal for a political resolution to the conflict, urging the international community to “intensify efforts to mitigate the risk of an expanded war.” He admitted that “diplomacy is challenging,” but emphasized London’s commitment to striving towards “leading an initiative for a more favorable peace” that would ultimately result in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The Times of Israel previously reported that Macron and Netanyahu had a phone conversation late on Sunday. The two leaders reportedly “acknowledged their differences of opinion,” but despite this, Macron did not withdraw his call for halting arms supplies. Meanwhile, Netanyahu expressed his expectation that “Israel’s friends” would “support it fully,” rather than impose restrictions on West Jerusalem that he believes would only bolster the “Iranian terror axis.”
