Overview

This bill aims to completely ban the UK from selling arms to Israel and from buying arms from Israel. It also mandates an independent inquiry into how effectively the UK government has ensured that arms sold to Israel haven't been misused.

Description

The Israel Arms Trade (Prohibition) Bill proposes a comprehensive ban on all arms trade with Israel. This includes:

• Prohibition on Arms Sales to Israel: The UK government would be legally barred from authorizing, licensing, or selling any arms to Israel. Existing licenses would be revoked.
• Prohibition on Arms Imports from Israel: The UK government would be prohibited from purchasing any arms, directly or indirectly, from Israel.
• Strengthened Export Controls: Israel would be added to the list of countries under strict export controls for military goods within the Export Control Order 2008.
• End-Use Inquiry: An independent inquiry must be launched within 60 days of the bill's passing to investigate the effectiveness of the UK's system for ensuring that arms sold to Israel are not used in violation of international law (Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria).
• Definitions: The bill clearly defines "arms" to include various military and dual-use goods and technologies, and "Israel" to include its military, police, and border police forces.

Government Spending

The bill's financial impact is not explicitly stated. However, it will likely lead to a reduction in UK government expenditure on purchasing arms from Israel and lost revenue from arms sales to Israel. No specific figures are provided within the bill text.

Groups Affected

• UK Government: Faces significant restrictions on its foreign policy and defence procurement.
• UK Arms Manufacturers: May experience a loss of revenue and potential job losses if they currently export to Israel.
• Israeli Government and Military: May face difficulties acquiring certain arms and military equipment.
• Human rights organizations: Potentially affected positively, dependent on the inquiry's findings and resulting policy changes.

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