London, May 10, -- The UK is still continuing to aid Israel
militarily through supplying arms and training despite the refusal by
the Zionist regime to give assurances about its attacks against
Palestinians, two British ministers confirmed this week.
Junior Trade Minister Nigel Griffiths revealed that Israel's
refusal to give any undertaking on the use of military equipment
supplied by Britain had not stopped the UK government from issuing
arms exporting licences.
Griffiths told parliament on Wednesday that 18 Standard Individual
Export Licences for Israel covering a range of goods on the
government's military list had been approved between February 18 and
April 22 2002.
"All export licence applications to Israel are assessed on a case
by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export
Licensing Criteria in the light of the circumstances prevailing at
the time," he argued.
"This means that we will not issue export licences where to do so
would be in contravention of the consolidated criteria, including
where there is a clear risk that the items might be used in internal
repression, international aggression, adversely effect regional
stability or prolong internal conflict," the minister insisted.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw confirmed for the first time two
months ago that evidence had been obtained that Israel had been using
converted British tanks against the Palestinians despite writing a
pledge in November 2000 that it would not use UK military equipment.
Israel subsequently snubbed a British protest and refused to give
any undertaking about the future use of UK arms in the occupied
territories.
The Foreign Office's latest annual report on arms sales showed
that the UK supplied 138 items on its military list in 2000,
including components for combat aircraft, for helicopter gunships,
for surface missiles, ammunitions and rifles.
On Tuesday, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram also listed Israel
among 104 countries, which had received training at UK military
establishment in the 12 months ending on 31 March 2002.
HC/KS