In a response to a written question by Apsana Begum MP on 18 December 2024, the Minister of State for the Department for Business and Trade, Douglas Alexander, clarified that Elbit Systems UK has not exported Thor drones to partner companies in Israel under individual export licences.
Alexander stated:
“Exports of these items from the UK would be subject to an export licence. Our records indicate that we have not issued any individual export licences for Israel to the company for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) referenced.”
The Minister explained that Elbit Systems UK is registered under two Open General Export Licences (OGELs), which theoretically allow for the export of UAVs to Israel. However, he emphasised that these licences only cover specific circumstances:
- Transfers supporting UK Government defence contracts, such as products delivered back to the UK.
- The return of military goods temporarily imported for exhibitions or demonstrations.
Additionally, Alexander reminded Parliament of the Government’s decision to suspend export licences for military goods to Israel that could potentially be used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in military operations in Gaza.
This suspension was announced by the Secretary of State on 2 September 2024.
Apsana Begum MP one of the many of other belief systems that are contrary to the general democratic free speech secular viewpoint of the majority within the UK.
Her pointed parliamentary question is about as irrlelevant as she is as to what the UK exports anywhere is small change to other nations and the IDF most definitely does not rely nor need what the UK may offer or not.
She’s an MP and as such is as entitled to ask irrelevant questions as any other MP. Having had the whip withdrawn or not, and whether than renders her irrelevant or not, doesn’t mean she shouldn’t ask questions. I disagree with most of what she says, but I’m still up for defending her right to say it.
Lazerbenabba do not seem to have asked for that.
Of course “the chickens are coming home to roost” , your justice system is already a 2 tier system where laws are not the same for everyone.
The only place where current British policy on the Middle East is relevant is in the British Parliament and in the British media. Nobody else cares.