Ministers question Israel's use of British-made equipment Mar 12 2002



Ministers are seeking an explanation from the Israeli Government over the use of British-made equipment in the Occupied Territories.

The Government has an agreement with Israel for British equipment not to be used in Gaza and the West Bank.

Junior Foreign Office minister Ben Bradshaw disclosed that new evidence shows that a number of Centurion tanks have been turned into armoured personnel carriers.

The tanks were exported to Israel between 1958 and 1970.

"This contradicts a written assurance that the Israeli Government gave us on November 29, 2000, that 'no UK originated equipment nor any UK originated systems/sub systems/components are used as part of the Israel Defence Force's activities in the Territories'.

In answer to Labour's George Galloway (Glasgow Kelvin), with whom he clashed last week over Iraq, Mr Bradshaw said: "We shall be seeking an explanation from the Israeli Government.

"I shall inform you and the House of the outcome."

The Government, he said, had no evidence that equipment or components made in the UK and licensed for export by the current Labour Government had been used by the Israeli forces against civilians in the Occupied Territories during the recent upsurge in violence.

"New information has, however, come to light that UK supplied equipment licensed for export under a previous administration and a different export control regime is being used by the Israelis in the Occupied Territories."