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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Great Britain sued by Palestinian organizations over arms sales to Israel

LONDON — The British government has been sued by pro-Palestinian groups aiming to suspend arms sales to Israel.   

The Ramallah-based Al Haq has petitioned the High Court to review Britain's military cooperation with Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. Al Haq, in a petition filed in London on Feb. 24, said the British government violated international obligations not to deliver weapons to Israel in wake of the Hamas war, which ended in January 2009.

"In spite of numerous interventions from Al Haq to urge the UK to take concrete action regarding Israel's actions in the OPT [occupied Palestinian territories] in general, and the recent military attacks on Gaza in particular, no meaningful measures have been taken by the UK, demonstrating a clear reluctance to compel Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and to ensure the protection of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people," Al Haq said.

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Al Haq said the British government continues to approve weapons exports to Israel in 2009. British companies have served as major subcontractors of air and other weapons platforms produced by the United States, the leading supplier to Israel.

The British Foreign Office acknowledged defense exports to Israel. The office said British exports remain tightly regulated.

"The government monitors the situation in Israel with care in considering applications for arms export licences," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The Al Haq suit demanded that the British government end export licenses to Israel as well as suspend military and other assistance to the Jewish state. Al Haq also called on the government to block British companies from exporting military technology or goods to Israel.

Al Haq said Britain approved a record amount of defense exports to Israel in early 2008. The organization, assisted by British attorneys, did not elaborate, but the Foreign Office said the increase in exports marked the sale of an unidentified naval communications system.

Amnesty International has also called for the suspension of weapons supplies to Israel and the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip. Amnesty said most of the weapons found in the Gaza Strip were manufactured in the United States.

"To a large extent, Israel's military offensive in Gaza was carried out with weapons, munitions and military equipment supplied by the USA and paid for with U.S. taxpayers' money," Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East, said. "The Obama administration should immediately suspend U.S. military aid to Israel."



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