The UK will not back Emmanuel Macron’s demand for a full arms embargo on Israel designed to halt fighting in the Middle East, Defence Secretary John Healey said today.
Mr Healey spoke out this morning after the French president called for materiel exports to be halted to try to end the brutal bombardment of Gaza.
Amid a new offensive by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) against Lebanon led to repeated bombardments of Beirut, Mr Macron said that shipments of arms destined for use in Gaza should be halted.
‘Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon, cannot become another Gaza,’ he added.
Britain has blocked export licences for some shipments that could be used to break international law in Gaza, but has refused to support a full blockade.
Asked whether he agreed with the French president’s view, the Defence Secretary told Sky News: ‘No, we work a different system.
‘We as a Government don’t supply anything directly to Israel, but where there are export licences that have a clear risk that may breach international law, then we’ve suspended those licences where they could affect the lives in Gaza.’
Mr Healey spoke out this morning after the French president called for materiel exports to be halted to try to end the brutal bombardment of Gaza.
Amid a new offensive by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) against Lebanon led to repeated bombardments of Beirut, Mr Macron said that shipments of arms destined for use in Gaza should be halted.
Asked whether he agreed with the French president’s view, the Defence Secretary told Sky News: ‘No, we work a different system.’
France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the defence ministry’s annual arms exports report.
But Mr Macron’s call was labelled a ‘disgrace’ by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
‘Just as Iran supports all parts of the Iranian terror axis, so are Israel’s friends expected to support it, and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,’ Netanyahu told Macron, according to a statement from his office.
Beirut has been left burning after huge blasts ripped through Lebanon’s capital in another night of airstrikes by Israel.
The latest onslaught hit Beirut’s southern suburbs late on Sunday, with large fireballs seen from miles away and loud booms ringing out over the darkened skyline.
The assault signified the most intense bombardment of the Lebanese capital since Israel sharply escalated its campaign against Iran-backed group Hezbollah last month.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported more than 30 strikes overnight into Sunday, while Israel’s military said about 130 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
This comes as Hezbollah fired a rocket salvo at the port city of Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, with shrapnel injuring several people.
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