UK’s Lord Carlile Quits Pro-Israel Advocacy Group

• CrossFireArabia
• September 10, 2024

Lord Carlile, a cross-bench peer in the UK’s House of Lords, resigned as a patron of UK Lawyers for Israel. His resignation comes at a time when the UK government has faced mounting pressure over its recent decision to suspend 8.5% of arms sales to Israel amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children according to the Quds News Network.

Lord Carlile, who is Jewish, recently penned an article in The Independent titled “Keir Starmer was Right to Take These Small but Meaningful Steps over Israel.” In his piece, he defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to suspend the arms sales, calling it a bold and legally sound move. Carlile emphasized that the decision aligns with the UK’s historical commitment to the Rule of Law and condemned the overreactions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some British figures.

Netanyahu has reportedly expressed strong opposition to the UK’s decision, a stance that Carlile criticized as “wildly disproportionate.” The Israeli prime minister’s obstinate resistance to ceasefire talks, despite mounting international pressure, has drawn further scrutiny. Carlile noted that Netanyahu’s refusal to heed advice from Israeli army commanders, prisoners’ families, and even US President Joe Biden has raised serious concerns about his leadership.

The UK’s decision follows similar actions taken by several of its international allies. Countries like Italy, Belgium, Denmark, and Spain have all halted arms exports to Israel, citing legal grounds. Despite facing intense backlash, Starmer’s administration, supported by legal advice dating back to February, moved forward with suspending a minority of the contracts. Notably, UK-made parts for Israel’s F-15 fighter jets are not included in the suspension, signaling a cautious approach to avoid severe diplomatic fallout.

Lord Carlile’s article also pointed out that Jews who criticize other Jews over such matters are undermining the very freedoms for which their ancestors fought. He expressed dismay at how some figures in the Jewish community, including the UK’s Chief Rabbi, have reacted to the arms suspension.