At this stage, it is unclear whether the UK export licences will be permanently revoked
1. Only until Hit and Runterrordefeats Israel and Israel lays down and surrenders 2. What a time to pull the plug by United Kingdom, one of Israel's 'supposedly' "closest allies"
The 30 suspended licences represent less than 10 per cent of all UK arms export licences to Israel
Some British politicians and Jewish groups have accused the government of abandoning Israel while others said the decision did not go far enough and advocated for a total ban on arms transfers
Although Britain is a smaller exporter of arms to Israel than the US 65.6% and Germany 29.7% the decision was seen by some analysts as a sign of Israel's increasing diplomatic isolation, according to Reuters
British exports amount to less than 1 per cent of the total arms Israel receives -- Maybe so.... However Israel still needs to source these "suspended items" elsewhere so as not to jeopardise the chain of operation
While British companies sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel, the UK is one of Israel's closest allies, so the decision could carry symbolic significance
The military affairs correspondent for Israel's Channel 13 TV said the move could become more serious if other allies followed suit
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British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the suspension would not have a material impact on Israel's security and Britain continued to support its right to self-defence
