London (AFP) – A major arms fair opens Tuesday in London without the presence of Israeli government officials due to worsening diplomatic relations between Britain and Israel over the Gaza conflict. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration excluded the officials from the four-day event, but not the 51 Israeli defence companies that are set to attend, including major arms manufacturer Elbit. State-owned Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries will also have exhibitions, making Israel the fifth-largest national contingent after the UK, United States, Australia, and Germany.
A coalition of more than 100 grassroots organisations and activist groups, including supporters of the Palestinians and anti-arms protestors, are expected to descend on the Excel London exhibition centre in the British capital, which is hosting the biennial DSEI UK trade fair. Israeli companies exhibiting “should be investigated for crimes against humanity, not invited to profit from the unspeakable devastation they have caused in Gaza,” Campaign Against Arms Trade spokesperson Emily Apple said in a statement.
Britain’s defence ministry announced at the end of August that no Israeli government delegation had been invited, citing Israel’s “decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza,” where Israel is battling to crush Hamas militants. Israel slammed the exclusion of its officials from the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair as “discrimination.”
At the same time, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due in London on Tuesday for a three-day official visit “to show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism,” his office said Monday. The arms fair “includes unrivalled access to international governments, ministries of defence… alongside all UK frontline commands,” according to the DSEI UK website.
A record number of exhibitors and visitors are expected at the event, as global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, have prompted European and other governments to ramp up military spending. France, which is also represented at the show, had in June blocked access to the stands of several Israeli arms manufacturers at the Paris Air Show for displaying what it termed “offensive weapons.”
Labour leader Starmer has said Britain will formally recognise a Palestinian state later this month if Israel does not take steps, including agreeing to a ceasefire in the Gaza war, which was sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. London has suspended trade talks with Israel over the conflict, as well as some export licences for arms used in Gaza, but some UK-made parts, such as components for Israeli F-35 jets, are still exported.
© 2024 AFP
