UK treating Israel like North Korea and Iran regarding arms sales

Freezing arms sales "pending policy review." David Lammy. — Photo: Dominic Dudley/Shutterstock

Civil servants in the United Kingdom responsible for approving arms sales are now refusing Israeli requests wholesale "pending a policy review" examining the legality of Israel's use of those weapons, effectively placing it in the same category as states like Iran and North Korea, according to the Jewish Chronicle.

The incoming Labour government has been quick to change its tune on Israel compared to the previous Conservative government on a number of matters, including withdrawing its objection to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant for alleged war crimes.

Now it is imposing an effective embargo against Israel subject to legal review by a government considered by many Israel critics to be more friendly to their concerns.

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While Britain is not a major arms supplier to Israel compared to the United States and Germany, it has sold it important parts for its F-15, F-16, and F-35 planes.