2024-09-03
The UK has suspended 30 arms export licences to the State of Israel including the direct transfer of parts of the F-35 fighter jet. The UK did this because of the mounting legal risk for any government that actively supports a genocide.
The Albanese Government is increasingly isolated in its refusal to introduce any form of ban or suspension in the two-way arms trade with the State of Israel. This is despite rulings by the International Court of Justice and the UN calling on countries to stop the export of military equipment to the State of Israel.
There are currently 66 active Australian military export permits approved by the Albanese Government to send military equipment to the State of Israel. These include goods being sent to Israeli manufacturers for repair and uplift, including weapons as part of the two-way arms trade, as well as dual-use goods and weapons parts and components.
Australia provides a critical supply line for the Israeli military’s F35 fighter jets, with contracts through over 70 companies, including the sole global manufacturers for specific parts.
While the information on the F35 supply line in Australia recently disappeared from Government websites, the head contractor for the F35 Lockheed Martin said: “Every F35 built contains some Australian parts and components.”
The UK’s arms ban does have a significant and inexplicable exemption for the indirect supply of F35 fighter jet parts to Israel through the US.
The UK ban follows a Dutch court ruling in February this year that ordered the Netherlands Government to stop exporting weapon parts for the F35.
Greens Senator and Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: "What will it take for the Albanese Labor government to ban the two-way arms trade with Israel?
”The UK’s move shows the growing legal and political risk for the Albanese government as it allows Australian industry and weapons exporters to support a real-time genocide.
“Australian law shields decision makers from criminal liability for supporting war crimes by placing a political veto to prosecutions in the hands of Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus. However, this does not provide a shield to international prosecutions through the International Criminal Court.
“Labor has agreed to an almost $1 billion contract with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit and millions more to firms such as Rafael Systems who are making record profits from arming those committing genocide.
“There is only one valid legal and moral response to an ongoing genocide, and that is to do everything in your power to stop it. This is a test that Labor is comprehensively failing," Senator Shoebridge said.