-Caveat Lector-
>From http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,683718,00.html
}}}>Begin
Secret UK ban on weapons for Israel
Blocking of sales mirrors German action
John Hooper in Berlin and Richard Norton-Taylor
Saturday April 13, 2002
The Guardian
Britain has imposed a de facto arms embargo on Israel for the first time in 20 years,
official sources have told the Guardian. The ban applies to military equipment that
could be used in Israel's continuing operations in the Palestinian territories.
The sources insist Britain has not imposed a formal or complete ban and Whitehall
officials are coy about discussing which sales have been blocked. Decisions, they
say, are being taken on a case-by-case basis. However, they add that military
equipment that would have been cleared before Israel's offensive against the
Palestinians, is now being blocked.
One Whitehall official pointed to the government's guidelines which state that arms
exports would be blocked if they were for "internal repression", affected "adversely
regional stability in any significant way", or if there was a clear risk "that the
intended
recipient would use the proposed export aggressively against another country, or to
assert by force a territorial claim".
London's undeclared policy mirrors that of Germany and is likely to be discussed
today when the German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, meets Tony Blair at
Chequers.
One source said the shift in Britain's stance had not been made public because of
deep divisions of opinion in Whitehall over the best response to developments in the
Middle East. These divisions went "a long way up", said the source.
France had also quietly suspended sales of certain arms, another source said. The
parallel moves by European powers emphasise Israel's growing estrangement from
its allies and make it more dependent than before on US goodwill.
In Britain's case, refusals to approve arms exports are more significant politically
and
diplomatically than militarily, since Britain is not a major supplier to Israel's armed
forces. Nevertheless, according to the latest figures, the government last year
approved £12.5m worth of military equipment for export to Israel.
It included demolition charges, general purpose machine guns, rifles, small arms
ammunition, components for small calibre artillery ammunition, and components for
air-to-surface missiles, armoured fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers,
combat aircraft and helicopters, and tanks. Whitehall officials made it clear these
items would not now be approved for export to Israel.
Ministers have demanded an explanation from Israel about its use of British
equipment in actions against Palestinians in the occupied territories. The Foreign
Office disclosed last month that Israeli armed forces had modified British Centurion
tanks, exported between 1958 and 1970, into armoured personnel carriers.
Speaking to reporters in London on Thursday, the German defence minister, Rudolf
Scharping, confirmed reports that his country was refusing export licences for tank
parts and other equipment for Israel. Though he insisted Germany was not operating
a formal arms embargo, Berlin had delayed shipments at what he called "this crucial
time".
The Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot had reported that Germany slapped an
embargo on 120 parts necessary for the construction of Merkava tanks. Britain
formally embargoed arms to Israel following its invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
