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> > From http://www.observer.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,750948,00.html > Cabinet in arms to Israel row > > Kamal Ahmed, political editor > Sunday July 7, 2002 > The Observer > > Britain is bypassing its own arms embargo on Israel by selling military > equipment via > America. > > In a move that has split the Cabinet, the Foreign Office is set to reveal that > components for F16 fighter planes will be allowed to leave the country despite > being > destined for aircraft already sold to Ariel Sharon's government. > > The move will be viewed with dismay by Arab states and anti-arms campaigners > who > say the arming of Israel raises tension in the area. One senior Government > figure > said there was a 'clear understanding' the fighter planes could be used for > aggressive acts against the Occupied Territories, in direct contradiction to > Tony > Blair's call for peace. > > Israel regularly uses F16s for assaults on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. > They > have been used in attacks on Rafah and the Palestinian securty compound in > Nablus, killing civilians. > > Government sources admitted the issue was 'delicate' and that rules on sales > to > embargoed countries via third countries were vague. One said the charge of > hypocrisy would be 'difficult to head off'. > > 'We look at these things on a case-by-case basis,' said one senior Downing > Street > official. 'We have to make it clear we will only sell to countries where there > are > effective procedures for controlling which countries the equipment is sold on > to.' > > The deal will again focus attention on the Government's attitude to military > sales > abroad and raise the possibility that any arms embargo can be bypassed by > selling to > a third country. > > The Government was condemned this year when it was revealed it was backing a > �28 million military air traffic control system for Tanzania despite claims > the country > did not need and could not afford such a high-tech system. > > The Ministry of Defence has been pushing for the Israel deal to go through, > despite > opposition from Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary. She is > worried > about the negative message such a deal sends to Arab supporters and the rest > of > the European Union. > > However, Hewitt will now back the deal as long as the rules on future > contracts to > third countries are clear. Britain is to provide sophisticated navigation and > targeting > equipment for the F16s, which are being built in America for Israel. > > The 'head-up displays' allow pilots to see positional and weapons information > displayed in front of each eye without having to look at separate dials. It is > sold as > allowing pilots to fly with fewer distractions and increasing the accuracy of > bombing > raids. > > The MoD admitted the contract was part of a wooing exercise to get US military > business. Britain and the US are already planning a �100 billion joint strike > fighter > project. > > 'We have to get as much of that business as possible and we cannot be > prescriptive > on what we will and won't sell them,' said one MoD source. 'The British > defence > industry employs tens of thousands of people. We have to show we are a > reliable > supplier of high-tech defence equipment.' > > The Foreign Office has already officially warned Israel about using British > equipment > to target the Occupied Territories. > > In May, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw demanded an explanation from Sharon's > government about the use of British military equipment in tanks and attack > helicopters. Straw was furious that their use had come to light despite a > written > pledge from Israel in November 2000 that said 'no UK-originated equipment . . > . is > used as part of the defence force's activities in the territories'. > > Campaigners against the new Israeli arms deal will point to guidelines > published by > the Government in 1997. They said that departments 'will not issue an export > licence > if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the intended recipient would use > the proposed > export aggressively against another country'. > > Although the Palestinian Authority areas are not officially a country, Blair > has said > that he supports a separate Palestinian state. > > Guardian Unlimited � Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
