TNN, London :Britain has finally decided to suspend sale of all military equipment to Israel and also revoke the licenses for arms if the cease fire is broken.The government has identified 12 licences for components which could be part of equipment used by Israel in its attacks on Gaza.Vince Cable, UK’s business secretary, said “We welcome the current ceasefire in Gaza and hope that it will lead to a peaceful resolution. However, the UK government has not been able to clarify if the export licence criteria are being met. We have however taken the decision to suspend these existing export licences in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities. No new licences for military equipment have been issued for use by the Israel Defence Force during the review period and as a precautionary measure this approach will continue until hostilities cease.”The suspensions, however, will not include the single licence granted in February 2013 for the export of up to £7.7 billion of cryptographic equipment. Cable said this licence covers equipment that could be used to build mobile phone networks in residential areas and for small businesses.”None of this equipment meets military specifications and would not suitable for building military communications equipment,” he said. The licences covered by the latest announcement relate to export licences for military equipment that could be used by the Israel Defence Force in Gaza.They include components for military radar systems, combat aircraft and tanks.Suspensions, however, would not include components of Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield which helps to protect Israelis from Hamas rocket attacks, commercial exports or components for manufacture of equipment to be supplied to countries outside Israel.Cable said “Currently there is a ceasefire in place and UK continues to urge both sides to respect this and to secure a lasting end to hostilities through the negotiations taking place in Cairo. However, in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities, the government is concerned that it would not be able to clarify if the export licence criteria are being met. It would therefore suspend these licences as a precautionary step”.UK said it continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza, and if existing licences are found to be no longer consistent with the criteria, those licences will be revoked.
