UK Defence Minister Stands by Statement Calling Israel a War Crimes Perpetrator

Britain’s new Defence Minister, Wes Streeting, has defended his previous statement accusing Israel of committing war crimes. The comments were made before his appointment on Monday.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday, Streeting said Israel should be judged by the same standards applied to the UK and its other allies. He did, however, acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defence.

Now serving as Defence Minister under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government, Streeting was asked whether he stood by his past remarks. He stated that he had not changed or withdrawn his comments. ‘I have made my concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank very clear. My comments are out there. They are published. They are on the record. I am not going to pretend I did not make them,’ Streeting said, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

He argued that being a friend of Israel does not mean avoiding criticism of the country. ‘But I also demand that Israel, as a friend and ally, meets the same standards that we apply to ourselves. That is the standard that should be applied to Israel. It is a standard that I believe, and I am concerned, they have failed to meet,’ he added.

When asked by the media whether the UK would continue purchasing weapons from Israel, Streeting responded that decisions regarding procurement, trade agreements, and diplomatic relations are made through established government frameworks, not by him alone.