Benjamin Netanyahu piles pressure on Keir Starmer to restore all arms licences for Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu is piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to restore all arms licences for Israel.

The Israeli PM ‘raised the issue’ of Britain having suspended around 30 licences in a phone call yesterday just hours after Donald Trump became US president.

A readout from the Jewish State’s government press office stated that Sir Keir ‘said that an evaluation of the issue is being carried out’.

Downing Street did not reference the matter, instead focussing on how the UK leader ‘offered his personal thanks’ for the rescue of British hostage Emily Damari.

The 28-year-old was last night seen with her iconic hand, which has had two fingers shot off, unbandaged for the first time. Her mother Mandy uploaded the image of Emily proudly striking the rockstar post with it on Twitter to thank supporters.

A No10 spokesman said last night of the arms licences: ‘We’ve been consistent in saying that we keep these things under review.’

The renewed arms embargo row suggests Mr Netanyahu could be strongarming Britain into restarting the arms licences after his friend Mr Trump returned as President.

The US leader is expected to be markedly more supportive of the Jewish State than his predecessor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to restore all arms licences for Israel

Sir Keir in the Downing Street Briefing Room. A No10 spokesman said last night of the arms licences: ‘We’ve been consistent in saying that we keep these things under review’

Sir Keir in the Downing Street Briefing Room. A No10 spokesman said last night of the arms licences: ‘We’ve been consistent in saying that we keep these things under review’

He has already reversed sanctions imposed by Joe Biden against extremist West Bank settlers, putting him at odds with Sir Keir.

Mr Trump also withdrew funding from UNRWA, the UN agency to support refugees in Gaza which Israel has called to be disbanded given numerous employees have been exposed as Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists.

In stark contrast, one of the Labour government’s first moves on assuming power last year was to reinstate aid to the organisation.

The Daily Mail then revealed that they had imposed a ‘secret arms embargo’ days before Foreign Secretary David Lammy made it official.

It provoked fury among Mr Netanyahu’s government. In an exclusive interview with the Mail, the Israeli PM attacked the ‘misguided’ policy and said Sir Keir was ‘sending a horrible message’ to Hamas.

Now it appears he is emboldened by Trump’s return and the ceasefire in Gaza to push for Britain to row back.

No 10 could not say why the UK account of Sir Keir’s call with Mr Netanyahu differed from Israel’s, when asked last night.

According to the British account of the call, Sir Keir is said to have ‘reiterated that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it’.

The UK is also said to stand ready ‘to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state’.

Emily Damari with her mother Mindy. The 28-year-old was last night seen with her iconic hand, which has had two fingers shot off, unbandaged for the first time

Emily Damari with her mother Mindy. The 28-year-old was last night seen with her iconic hand, which has had two fingers shot off, unbandaged for the first time

Netanyahu with President Donald Trump in 2017. Trump has already reversed sanctions imposed by Joe Biden against extremist West Bank settlers, putting him at odds with Sir Keir

Netanyahu with President Donald Trump in 2017. Trump has already reversed sanctions imposed by Joe Biden against extremist West Bank settlers, putting him at odds with Sir Keir

It comes as IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi last night announced he will stand down on March 6 citing his ‘responsibility for the IDF’s failure on October 7.’

The military was blindsided by Hamas’s attack in 2023 that saw 1,200 killed and 250 hostages taken. Halevi was widely commended for stepping down over the failings.

It was also rumoured last night that Israeli Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar will also step down once all the hostages are returned.

But Mr Netanyahu has not signalled any willingness to step down over the massive failings that led to October 7.

His controversial judicial reforms sparked mass public unrest in the lead up to the massacre. He was warned by intelligence and military chiefs that they were risking national security but pushed on anyway.

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