Sir, Your report “Britain lets more US arms flights land in Scotland” (July 28) highlights both the contradictions in British policy on the Middle East crisis and the deadly ambiguities at the heart of the global arms trade.

Britain has effectively played a role in the supply of weapons to a region where arms are being used in gross violation of international humanitarian law. This is not only morally indefensible but it runs contrary to the United Kingdom’s international commitments on arms control.

Under the EU Code of Conduct on the export of weapons, the British Government should not allow the export of “bunker buster bombs” if they are likely to be used aggressively against another country, or to aggravate armed conflict in the country of final destination. Why then is it allowing British territory to be used as a staging post for weapons that are clearly fuelling the current conflict and the immense human suffering it is causing?

This runs contrary to the Government’s promotion of an international arms trade treaty, which would set standards for the transfers of weapons based on obligations under international law. The reported decision to aid the supply of weapons to Israel at this time runs contrary to the basis of such a treaty and risks undermining the efforts the UK is making to promote this urgent initiative.

PHIL BLOOMER
Director, Campaigns and Policy
Oxfam, Oxford

Sir, The emerging cross-party consensus against arms shipments to Israel is to be welcomed. It is surely impossible to support peace in Israel and Lebanon if we are arming one of the belligerents. It is also highly damaging to our international reputation to allow our airports to be used to transit offensive weapons.

Any cursory reading of the international media in the past few days repeatedly brings up Prestwick airport to Scotland’s shame. Why then has the devolved Scottish Government been silent on the issue? In the recent past Labour and Liberal Democrat ministers at Holyrood have commented on international affairs from debt relief to international development.

Why then are they ducking their moral responsibilities and giving no leadership on this matter of life and death?

ANGUS ROBERTSON, MP
Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesman
Scottish National Party
House of Commons
London SW1

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