LONDON (JTA) — The United Kingdom will review all arms exports to Israel, Britain’s foreign secretary has announced.
During Israel’s military operation in Gaza earlier this year, British lawmakers had demanded that the government ensure its weapons parts were not used against Palestinians. At the time, Foreign Secretary David Miliband promised to look into the issue, and on Tuesday he issued a written statement detailing all direct and indirect arms exports from the United Kingdom to Israel.
In his statement Miliband promised that all export licenses would be reviewed "in light of recent events in Gaza," adding that all future applications to export arms to Israel also will be assessed with the Gaza conflict in mind.
Miliband indicated that Britain’s military export to Israel amounts to less than 1 percent of Israel’s import of military equipment, including the export of components for American-made planes that end up in the Jewish state.
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