Refer Report

As Britain implements a ban on some arms exports to Israel, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces pressure from both inside and outside the country. At home, he is struggling with opposition from the Jewish community in Britain and concerns within his cabinet, while at the same time he is burdened with diplomatic pressure from allies the United States and Israel.

The Times of Britain reported on the 3rd (local time) that there is a conflict with the United States regarding this decision by the UK. Citing a senior British government source, the media outlet reported that the US had informally conveyed concerns about the suspension of arms exports to Israel to the Labor government led by Prime Minister Starmer. The US was concerned that if the international community sends a signal that it is turning its back on Israel while the ceasefire negotiations with the Palestinian armed group Hamas are difficult, it could make the negotiations more difficult, the source said.

Matthew Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said, “We respect the sovereign decision of the U.K.,” but drew a line with the U.K. decision, saying, “The U.S. will not evaluate it based on U.K. standards. We will make decisions based on U.S. law.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also strongly objected. On the 3rd, he criticized on X (former Twitter) that “this shameful decision does not change Israel’s resolve to defeat Hamas,” and that “this miscalculation by Britain, instead of supporting fellow Israelis defending their country against barbarism, only emboldens Hamas.”

The Times reported that the British government had intended to announce the decision earlier, but that the announcement was delayed due to private “interventions” by the United States and Israel.

There are also concerns internally. In particular, there is analysis that it will have a negative impact on Prime Minister Starmer’s efforts to restore relations with the Jewish community. Jeremy Corbyn, who was the leader of the Labour Party before Prime Minister Starmer, has been embroiled in controversy over anti-Semitism. Prime Minister Starmer, who became the party leader in 2020, has taken steps to eradicate anti-Semitism, including expelling former leader Corbyn from the party. His wife, Victoria Starmer, is also from a Jewish family.

The decision was met with criticism from the Jewish community. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the Jewish community’s top leader, criticized the decision on social media, saying it would “incite our common enemies.” The Council of British Jews also said the decision “sends the wrong message at the wrong time.”

The opposition party also appears to be exploiting the gap. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a member of the main opposition Conservative Party, criticized the Labour government, saying, “Do you want Hamas to win?”

Despite the internal and external troubles of Keir Starmer’s government, this decision is seen as having great symbolic significance.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of the United States evaluated on the 3rd that although the UK’s share of Israel’s arms imports (about 1%) is small, this measure has great symbolic significance. It is a signal of a change in diplomatic support beyond military support. It also observed that it could add strength to the possibility that other allies will leave the ranks of Israel’s supporters.

“While the UK is not a major supplier of arms to Israel, it is sending a message that the Israeli government is losing the support of its Western allies,” Bara Sivan, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense think tank in the UK, told the Journal. “Ultimately, it will put pressure on the Joe Biden administration in the US to follow through.”

According to the Guardian, in addition to the UK, countries that have suspended or restricted arms exports to Israel include Italy, Spain, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Major exporters such as the US and Germany are maintaining arms exports to Israel.

Source: Korean