: May I ask for a
statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and
Welsh Language on—? I will wait a moment. I was seeking a
statement from the Cabinet Secretary for the economy on the role
of Wales in arming the Israeli Government and the
Israel Defense Forces. The
Trefnydd will be aware that over 33,000 have now been killed in
Gaza and that 1.7 million are suffering famine at the moment.
Canada, Spain and others have ceased the licensing of the sale of
arms to the Israeli Government, whilst
the UK Government has continued to license the sale of arms to
them. The International Court of Justice has called on
the Israeli Government to cease
actions that, according to the ICJ, appear to be falling into the
definition of genocide. So, the fact that the UK is allowing for
such arms to be sold and to be used by the IDF means that the UK
is culpable in these atrocities. Companies from Wales do provide
components for these weapons, so can we have a statement on what
steps the Government is taking in order to prevent this from
happening, and an assurance that Welsh Government funding isn't
being provided to companies that are funding these weapons?
Jane Hutt (Trefnydd and Chief Whip): Diolch yn fawr, Mabon ap
Gwynfor. Thank you for raising this important issue. Of course,
over the weeks of the Easter recess, we've seen the horrendous
and appalling situation in the middle east and have seen the
impact of the famine on the people, and children particularly, of
Gaza. Certainly, this is something where, in terms of our powers
and responsibilities, we have no role in terms of defence and the
sale of arms, but certainly I will be sharing this question with
the Cabinet Secretary for economy in terms of Wales and where we
sit in that situation in terms of that question.
