Human rights group loses legal challenge over exports of jet parts to Israel
Al-Haq took legal action against the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) over its decision to continue licensing exports of components for F-35 fighter jets, telling a hearing in May that it was unlawful and 'gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime'.
In September last year, the Government suspended export licences for weapons and military equipment following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the conflict.
But an exemption was made for some licences related to parts for F-35s, which are part of an international defence programme.
The DBT defended the challenge, with its barristers telling a four-day hearing in London that the carve-out is 'consistent with the rules of international law'.
In a 72-page ruling on Monday, Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed the legal challenge.
The senior judges said that 'the conduct of international relations' is a matter for the executive, rather than the courts, and that it would be unnecessary to decide whether there was a 'significant risk' that the carve-out could facilitate crimes.
Defence Secretary John Healey had said a suspension would impact the 'whole F-35 programme' (PA)
They added: 'The grave risk to life in the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip is not created by the F-35 carve-out, and would not be removed by suspension of the export from the UK of F-35 parts into the F-35 programme.'
The High Court was previously told that the decision to 'carve out' licences related to F-35 components followed advice from Defence Secretary John Healey, who said a suspension would impact the 'whole F-35 programme' and have a 'profound impact on international peace and security'.
The F-35 programme is an international defence programme which produces and maintains the fighter jets, with the UK contributing components for both assembly lines and an international pool.
Israel is not one of the 'partner nations' of the programme, the court heard, but is a customer and can order new F-35 aircraft and draw on a pool for spare parts.
The two judges later said they agreed with barristers for the DBT, who said it was not possible for the UK to 'unilaterally' ensure that UK-made parts did not reach Israel.
Demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice, central London during an earlier hearing (PA)
Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn said: 'In short, the Secretary of State reasonably concluded that there was no realistic possibility of persuading all other partner nations that F-35 exports to Israel should be suspended.'
'Accordingly he was faced with the blunt choice of accepting the F-35 carve-out or withdrawing from the F-35 Programme and accepting all the defence and diplomatic consequences which would ensue,' they added.
The two judges also said the case was about a 'much more focused issue' than the carve-out itself.
They continued: 'That issue is whether it is open to the court to rule that the UK must withdraw from a specific multilateral defence collaboration which is reasonably regarded by the responsible ministers as vital to the defence of the UK and to international peace and security, because of the prospect that some UK manufactured components will or may ultimately be supplied to Israel, and may be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law in the conflict in Gaza.
'Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Car
23 minutes ago
- Auto Car
Why the UK's car factories have suffered for years – and how to fix them
Close The current UK government is proving one of most automotive-friendly in years, winning plaudits from the industry for its successful haggling over US tariffs, loosening of the ZEV mandate without a disruptive rewrite, and now for a new industrial strategy that puts automotive right at its heart. One of the hopes the government expressed within the strategy document is that UK vehicle manufacturing output can climb again, from a paltry 905,233 cars, vans, trucks and buses last year to 1.3 million by 2035.
BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
MPs to vote on welfare bill as unrest rumbles on
MPs will vote on the government's planned reforms to welfare later - with dozens of Labour MPs still planning to vote against them, despite concessions from ministers. The Conservatives have said they will oppose the plans as they are not "serious reforms".The rebellion's scale has ebbed and flowed. Last week, more than 120 Labour MPs signed an amendment that would have killed the proposals outright, an extraordinary threat of defeat for a government with a landslide majority. Now a replacement amendment, supported by disability charities, has attracted around 35 Labour MPs. It suggests that last-minute concessions may have reduced the potential for a government loss - but not comfortably. A number of MPs have expressed concerns about a promised review of personal independence payment (Pip) assessments, after Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced on Monday that it would only report back around the same time that the proposed changes were introduced. Labour Chief Whip Sir Alan Campbell reportedly told a regular meeting of the parliamentary party last night that they should "act as a team" and government efforts at persuasion are expected to continue up until the vote itself, which is due this the current government concessions people who currently receive Pip or the health element of universal credit will continue to do so. But future claimants will still be affected by the reforms. Chris Mason: Labour still has a big persuasion job aheadWelfare cuts: What are the Pip and universal credit changes?'Disability welfare reforms could leave us worse off' The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, told the BBC her party would vote against the measures"The benefits bill is too high," she said."It was 40bn just before Covid. It is now projected to be a 100bn by 2030. And what Labour is doing is not making any savings at all. It's just reducing the rate of increase. That's why we are not supporting it."Other criticism of the government proposals has been diverse, with some saying the reforms will not be as effective as the government hopes. "I strongly believe that these kind of punitive measures of cutting welfare are not going to have the outcomes that we've been told they will," said Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, who is disabled and opposes the reforms."I think it will just be about saving money but will actually move spending into areas such as housing services, the NHS and social care," she told BBC added that some MPs were still considering their vote, saying the rebellion would be "more significant than maybe people realise".Kendall defended the bill in the House of Commons on Monday, saying it aligned with MPs' shared values around providing support to those that could work while protecting those that published by Department for Work and Pensions suggested around 150,000 people might be pushed into poverty by 2030 because of the welfare cuts - lower than the original 250,000 figure estimated before the government made the Stephen Timms is slated to conduct the report that was among the concessions. He told BBC Newsnight that the net effect of the government's policies would reduce poverty - including the measures to help people into work. He also stressed the need to make Pip sustainable in the Conservatives have criticised the cost of the bill while the Liberal Democrats have called for proposals to be suspended so they can be further looked government had hoped to save £5bn a year by 2030 before the concessions. These are now likely to cost around £3bn, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
B&Q slashes £78 off garden summerhouse bar this July – perfect for alfresco drinks on summer evenings
B&Q has slashed the price of a garden bar that could add some pizzazz to your outdoor space this summer. The reduction plunges the price from £427.99 to £349.99, saving £78 off. 1 The heatwave is continuing into July, and there's still time to make the most of the hot weather. If you have outdoor space, you don't have to spend lots of money on days out when you can just step out through your back door to enjoy the sun. B&Q has a unique garden addition on sale right now - the Waltons Garden Bar, which creates a fun area for parties. It comes in three different sizes, but it's the 6 x 4ft size that's reduced to £349.99, and the compact size could even fit into small gardens. The bar is made from pressure-treated wood, which is protected against decay, and it comes with a 10-year guarantee. The slanted shape of the roof allows rainwater to run off the top, ensuring the inside of the bar stays dry in rainy weather. It might be a simple design, but the natural would fit seamlessly into most garden, plus it's easily jazzed up with some fairy lights or bunting. If you're a household that's always entertaining friends and family, it's a great option for creating a pub garden from home. For a real bar experience, you could add some stools so your guests can get comfortable - although they might become regular visitors. Designed with a bar-like countertop around the inside perimeter, and a side entrance, all you need to do is pick a designated barman and you're good to go. If you're partial to a cold tipple, there's plenty of space inside the front of the bar, so you could easily store a mini fridge or cooler box out of sight. During the summer holidays especially, having a great garden set-up keeps kids entertained - and a garden bar will occupy the adults too. B&Q isn't the only home and garden retailer to drop its prices amidst the heatwave - read on as Argos launches summer deals including slashing the cost of outdoor essentials including lawnmowers and parasols. Solar lights are a great way to add some atmospheric lighting to a garden without using any electricity, and you can take a look at our pick of the best solar lights for the garden.
