Bush officals tell Arab-Americans U.S. will rethink arms sales to Israel
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, June 1, 2001
The Bush administration reportedly told
Arab-American leaders that the White House is reconsidering weapons sales to
Israel after its use of F-16 aircraft against the regime of Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat.
Arab-American leaders said they were told by senior U.S. officials that
the administration would give "serious consideration" to future U.S. arms
sales to Israel during the Israeli-Palestinian war, Middle East Newsline reported. The senior officials —
including National Security Council member Bruce Riedel — attended a
meeting sponsored by Arab and Islamic leaders.
The meeting was organized by the Arab American Institute. The group's
president, James Zogby, said he called the meeting after being told by Arab
leaders that the Arabs were increasingly seeing the conflict as a
"U.S.-Israeli confrontation with the Palestinians."
Riedel reportedly told the Arab-American leaders that the administration
is reviewing the complaints that Israel is using such U.S.-made systems as
the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter, F-16 fighter and light anti-tank
weapons, against the Palestinians. The Arab-Americans said this violates the
Arms Export Control Act.
"We are concerned that U.S. interests in the region are being
compromised because Arab public opinion views U.S. weaponry as killing Arab
children," AAI chairman George Salem said. "Obviously, our community is
monitoring this crisis very closely and we will continue to raise it at the
highest levels."
Friday, June 1, 2001
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