Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to change their policy on selling arms to Israel in line with the policy not to sell arms where they might be used for external aggression or internal repression.

The Government announced the outcome of a review of export licensing for Israel on 14 July 2014.

As a result of the review the Government will now assess all export licence applications for Israel, as for all destinations, against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Criterion 2 states that the Government “will not grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the items might be used for internal repression”; Criterion 4 states that the Government “will not grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the intended recipient would use the items aggressively against another country, or to assert by force a territorial claim”.