- Reaction score
- 35
- Points
- 560
UK cuts Israel weapons contracts
The UK has revoked five export licences for equipment to the Israeli navy
because of actions during Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza this year.
The British Foreign office said the exports would now contravene its criteria
for arms sales, but denied that it had imposed a partial embargo. The UK
says it does not sell weapons which might be used for internal repression
or external aggression.
Israel says its troops complied fully with international law during missions.
The 22-day operation which ended on 18 January has been widely condemned
as disproportionate by critics.
The British government has been challenged by human rights groups and
members of the UK parliament over concerns raised by Amnesty International
that British-made equipment was used illegally in Gaza. Amnesty says both
Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the conflict.
In April, the British government issued a statement saying it had not contravened
its own guidelines, which it described as "stringent", but said it was was reviewing
existing licences. On Monday, the Foreign Office said in a statement that it had
conducted the review, and found "in a small number of cases Israeli action in Cast
Lead would result in the export of those goods now contravening the… criteria".
An unnamed Israeli official said five of 35 contracts for naval equipment had been
cancelled.
Media reports quoted Israeli officials as saying these all related to the Saar
4.5 gunboat.
'Not bothered'
In April, the British Foreign Office said there were "credible reports" that the vessels
had been used in a "naval fire support role" during Operation Cast Lead.The British
Foreign Office said future decisions would "take into account what has happened in
the recent conflict". "We do not grant export licences where there is a clear risk that
arms will be used for external aggression or internal repression," it said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli public radio: "We've had many
embargoes in the past... We can manage. This shouldn't bother us."
Palestinian rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation.
Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict, nine of them were soldiers serving in Gaza.
Israel said its operation aimed to reduce rocket fire from Gaza aimed at its southern
towns.
The UK has revoked five export licences for equipment to the Israeli navy
because of actions during Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza this year.
The British Foreign office said the exports would now contravene its criteria
for arms sales, but denied that it had imposed a partial embargo. The UK
says it does not sell weapons which might be used for internal repression
or external aggression.
Israel says its troops complied fully with international law during missions.
The 22-day operation which ended on 18 January has been widely condemned
as disproportionate by critics.
The British government has been challenged by human rights groups and
members of the UK parliament over concerns raised by Amnesty International
that British-made equipment was used illegally in Gaza. Amnesty says both
Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the conflict.
In April, the British government issued a statement saying it had not contravened
its own guidelines, which it described as "stringent", but said it was was reviewing
existing licences. On Monday, the Foreign Office said in a statement that it had
conducted the review, and found "in a small number of cases Israeli action in Cast
Lead would result in the export of those goods now contravening the… criteria".
An unnamed Israeli official said five of 35 contracts for naval equipment had been
cancelled.
Media reports quoted Israeli officials as saying these all related to the Saar
4.5 gunboat.
'Not bothered'
In April, the British Foreign Office said there were "credible reports" that the vessels
had been used in a "naval fire support role" during Operation Cast Lead.The British
Foreign Office said future decisions would "take into account what has happened in
the recent conflict". "We do not grant export licences where there is a clear risk that
arms will be used for external aggression or internal repression," it said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli public radio: "We've had many
embargoes in the past... We can manage. This shouldn't bother us."
Palestinian rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation.
Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict, nine of them were soldiers serving in Gaza.
Israel said its operation aimed to reduce rocket fire from Gaza aimed at its southern
towns.
