Countries That Halted Security Aid to Israel

A couple of weeks ago, an unprecedented court decision was made in the Netherlands. The court accepted the petition of pro-Palestinian organizations and ordered an end to the supply of weapons to Israel. This decision was made in light of the recent war in Gaza. The Dutch government, however, announced that it would appeal the decision in order to prevent any potential harm to Israel’s security. It is important to note that this is not an isolated incident, but part of a growing trend where several other countries have taken similar steps. At this point, it doesn’t directly impact Israel’s military efforts. However, there is a growing concern that this decision could start a chain reaction, leading other countries to follow suit. The main focus is on Washington, which is currently responsible for providing the most significant and largest aid to Israel.Towards the end of the week, a special committee of the United Nations declared that an immediate arms embargo should be imposed on Israel. This unusual statement, which was published on the official website of the United Nations, stated that any transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel, which could potentially be used in Gaza, may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.

The F-35 storm in the Netherlands

According to the Dutch decision, the supply of spare parts for the advanced fighter planes of the type F-35 will be suspended. The Netherlands is one of the partner countries, alongside the USA, Israel, and others, in the production and distribution of spare parts for these advanced aircraft. Dr. Chek Freilich, the former deputy head of the MLA and currently a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), described this as an unusual event where a partner manufacturer threatens to halt the supply to another country that is also a partner in the same production line. He recalled a similar situation with the F-15, where parts were produced in Saudi Arabia, and the situation was handled quietly.

It is important to note that the decision made in the Netherlands is primarily political and is not expected to have any operational effects. Even if spare parts are not sent to Israel from the warehouse located in the Netherlands, they will be able to reach Israel through other means. If a ban on exports from the Netherlands is indeed enforced, it may lead to logistical issues, but it is not expected to have any impact on Israel’s operational level, particularly in the field of the F-35 aircraft.

The Lockheed Martin company, which is responsible for manufacturing the planes, announced that they are working in full cooperation with the F-35 program director to assess the potential impact of the Dutch court ruling on their supply chain. They emphasized their continued support for the American government and its allies as required.

The countries that stopped aid, and the embarrassment for the Spanish government

In Belgium, the local government of the Walloon region announced, after the completion of the hearings in South Africa’s claim at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, that it ordered the immediate halt of two concessions for the sale of ammunition to Israel. Similarly, in Japan, the defense company Itochu announced that they would not renew their defense cooperation agreement with the Israeli company Elbit due to the war. The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tiani, also announced in response to various claims in the Democratic Party in the USA, that Italy has completely stopped supplying weapons to Israel since the war started on October 7.

In Spain, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez made similar statements against the backdrop of the anti-Israel position promoted by the government in Madrid. However, there was some embarrassment when a local newspaper revealed an arms deal between Spain and Israel worth 1.1 million dollars from November. The Spanish government then attempted to claim that this was ammunition intended for experimental and research purposes, possibly to quell public criticism at home.

Recently, the British Guardian reported that the British government is contemplating a ban on the export of arms to Israel if a military operation begins in Rafah and if there are indications of widespread human rights violations. After the USA, Germany, and India, the UK is an important arms supplier to Israel. It is crucial to highlight that these are only reports at this stage and no actual decision has been made.

Danger to the country’s security: the stoppage of aid from the USA

The US is responsible for over half of all the aid that Israel receives from countries around the world. Dr. Freilich stresses that any breach of this could be disastrous for Israel’s security. He noted that there are many considerations at play regarding the conditions of aid, such as demands for a change in policy on the Palestinian issue, which was once considered an unacceptable position but has now become a legitimate one.

“There is a grave danger in the future,” adds Freilich, against the backdrop of the many recent reports of policy disputes between Jerusalem and Washington. “The IDF is building not only on the completion of the current plan (for equipping from the US) which ends in 2028, but is also based on the assumption that there will be another, even bigger plan. The assumption that these things will take place is not self-evident, and it is a very serious danger, even an existential one.”