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Cabinet row over move to suspend Israel arms licences

August 13, 2014 10:02
Business Secretary Vince Cable

By

Marcus Dysch,

Marcus Dysch

1 min read

The government’s decision to suspend a series of arms export licences to Israel if hostilities resume in Gaza was the cause of a major row between the coalition parties, the JC understands.

Business Secretary Vince Cable holds sole responsibility for issuing arms licences, with legislation stating that even the Prime Minister cannot overrule the Secretary of State’s decision.

Mr Cable and his Liberal Democrat colleagues favoured a ban on all arms to Israel following the Israel Defence Force’s operation in Gaza.

While Mr Cameron and the Conservatives opposed that stance, they were powerless to stop Mr Cable exercising his unilateral power. The only option available would have been to sack Mr Cable and risk the collapse of the government.