Ministers claim F-35 jet programme has priority over arms export law

Preserving the British role in the F-35 fighter jet programme takes precedence over the need to comply with UK laws on arms export controls, or any UK obligation to prevent a genocide in Israel, UK government lawyers will argue in court this week.

- Patrick Wintour

The high court case will test whether ministers have broken the law by continuing to supply parts for the F-35 that may be used by Israel to attack Palestinians in Gaza.

The four-day case, which starts tomorrow, has taken nearly a year to come to court. It has been brought by a Palestinian human rights group, Al-Haq, but is supported by British groups including Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and the Global Legal Action Network.

The case has already had an effect, since in September last year the UK suspended some arms export licences 90 minutes before it was due to appear in court to defend continuing arms export licences to Israel.

When making that announcement, ministers allowed the supply of UK components to the global pool of F-35 jets, saying such disruption to the F-35 programme would be a threat to Nato's peace and security.