Government’s DSEI Decision on Israel “Cowardly and Symbolic,” Says Campaign Group
The UK government’s decision not to invite an official Israeli delegation to the upcoming DSEI arms fair has been condemned as a “cowardly and symbolic” gesture that prioritises the profits of arms dealers over meaningful action.
The criticism comes from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which points out that the cancellation of the Israeli country pavilion was initiated by the Israeli government itself, not the UK. Meanwhile, major Israeli arms companies, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries, will still be exhibiting at the event.
CAAT’s Media Coordinator, Emily Apple, stated:
“While CAAT welcomes the government’s decision not to invite an official Israeli delegation to DSEI, it is cowardly and symbolic. It was not the UK government that decided to pull the plug on the Israel country pavilion, but the Israeli government. Meanwhile, it is welcoming companies such as Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defence company who make 85% of the drones used by the Israeli Defence Force, to market their genocide tested weapons to a global audience.”
Apple accused the government of pretending to take a stand while actively facilitating the arms trade with Israel.
“This is the government pretending to take action while safeguarding the profits of arms dealers. At the same time it’s banning an official Israeli delegation, it is on the cusp of awarding a £2bn contract to Elbit Systems. These are not the actions of a government committed to taking action against Israel. These are the actions of a government complicit in a genocide.”
The statement outlined the context of the ongoing military action in Gaza, describing it in stark terms.
“Israel is committing genocide. It has created a man-made famine. Babies are dying from starvation. Israel is bombing hospitals and killing journalists. These heart breaking atrocities are war crimes. Nothing could be clearer.”
With the government failing to take substantive action, CAAT concluded that the responsibility now falls on public campaigners.
“It is also clear that our government is not committed to taking any action that disrupts the profits of arms dealers. It is therefore down to campaigners across the country coming together to take action to uphold international law on the streets of East London”.
The DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment International) arms fair is scheduled to take place in London in September.
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About CAAT:
The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based working to end the international arms trade, which has a devastating impact on human rights and security, and damages economic development.
