The UK government’s decision to give Israel parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment wasn’t illegal — despite knowing the components could be used to aid the Jewish state’s war against Hamas in Gaza, London’s High Court ruled Monday.
Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group based in the West Bank, had accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government of breaking domestic and international law by making F-35 parts exempt from the suspension of some arms export licenses to Israel last year.
At the time, the Labour government suspended roughly 30 of 350 export licenses for equipment — including parts for helicopters and drones — deemed to be for use in the Gaza war because of a “clear risk” the items could be used to violate international law.
An exemption, though, was made for some licenses related to fighter jet components.
Al-Haq had claimed the UK used a “deliberate loophole” to continue arming Israel — despite the government’s own criticism of the Gaza operation.
The government noted the components manufactured in the UK were sent to assembly lines in the US, Italy and Japan that supply other global partners in addition to Israel.
In dismissing Al-Haq’s challenge, High Court Judges Stephen Males and Karen Steyn ruled that the issue was one of national security because the parts were considered vital to defense collaboration with the other countries.
“Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts,” the judges wrote in the hefty, 72-page judgment.
The government said the ruling showed it had some of the most rigorous export rules in the world.
“We will continue to keep our defense export licensing under careful and continual review,” a spokesperson said.
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Al-Haq, meanwhile, said it was disappointed with the ruling but stopped short of saying whether it would seek permission to appeal.
“Despite the outcome of today, this case has centered the voice of the Palestinian people and has rallied significant public support, and it is just the start,” General Director Shawan Jabarin said in a statement.
“We continue on all fronts in our work to defend our collective human values and work towards achieving justice for the Palestinians.”
With Post wires
