British Jews slam chief rabbi's condemnation of arms suspension to Israel

Britain's chief rabbi has slammed his country's decision to withdraw some arms sales licenses for export to Israel  - a move that has divided opinion among British Jews.

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the move would bolster arguments that Israel is breaching international law, which he called a "falsehood".

"It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences," Ephraim Mirvis said on X.

"As Israel faces down the threat of Iran and its proxies, not just to its own people, but to all of us in the democratic west; this announcement feeds the falsehood that Israel is in breach of International Humanitarian Law, when in fact it is going to extraordinary lengths to uphold it," he added, echoing Israeli officials' claims that the Israeli army is taking exceptional precautions to ensure civilian safety.

The rabbi's statement drew backlash from critics of Israel's war on Gaza, including British Jews.

"I (and very many other British Jews) do not regard the Chief Rabbi as representing me in any way His regular pronouncements chill me to the bone with their seemingly unthinking support for the most heinous actions of Israel and their lack of common humanity for Israel’s victim," said X user Tom London.

Jewish anti-occupation group Na'amod also weighed in on X.

"The Chief Rabbi demeans his own office by consistently encouraging the UK government to ignore its legal and ethical obligations - in this case, advocating for Britain to supply lethal weapons in a genocidal war," Na'amod said.

British writer Solomon Hughes wrote: "Why is the BBC leading news of the UK suspending some arms to Israel with complaints from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis? It's a political, not a religious act. Mirvis only represents 37k Synagogue Members. 100ks have been marching against the Gaza War, let's hear from them instead."

Mirvis, who has a son serving in the Israeli army, expressed support for Israel and its army several times during its war on Gaza.

"The Jewish people are showing incredible strength at this very trying time, no one more so than our incredible heroic soldiers," Mirvis said at a gathering in January, 

The rabbi also described Israel's actions as the " most outstanding possible thing that a decent, responsible country can do for its citizens and people".

The UK government announced earlier this week that it would be blocking 30 of its 350 licences for arms exports to Israel, following legal advice requested by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Lammy said the move was made because there was a risk such equipment might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Some British politicians and human rights groups said the new restrictions were too limited, with a loophole allowing Britain to continue to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets.

Polls show the British public broadly supports ending arms sales to Israel. More than 50% of the public would support the decision and only 13% are opposed, YouGov found at the end of July.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed 40,861 Palestinians since October and wounded tens of thousands more, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Israel is also on trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on accusations of committing genocide, while International Criminal Court (ICC) justices are considering whether to issue arrest warrants against Israel's prime minister and defence minister.