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UK Warship Docks in Haifa as Part of Growing Coop with «Israel»

UK Warship Docks in Haifa as Part of Growing Coop with «Israel»
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Local Editor

As part of the growing cooperation between the UK and the "Israeli" apartheid entity, the British Royal Navy assault ship HMS Bulwark arrived in Haifa Port on Tuesday for a short visit before she sails back to the UK.

UK Warship Docks in Haifa as Part of Growing Coop with «Israel»

The Bulwark, whose captain is Capt. James Parkin, is deployed as part of the Royal Navy's Joint Expeditionary Force [Maritime] Task Group commanded by Commodore Andy Burns.

Based in Devonport, the Bulwark is one of the Royal Navy's two amphibious assault command and control ships. It is the second largest ship in the British fleet, measuring 176 meters long, displacing some 18,000 tons and with a company of nearly 600 men and women.

These include some 170 Royal Marines and 42 Commando Royal Marines, including their Viking armored all-terrain tracked vehicles, as well as numerous support vehicles. Able to deploy worldwide within five days, the Bulwark's first operational deployment was to Lebanon in 2006: evacuating civilians following the outbreak of the 2006 "Israeli" war on Lebanon.

According to a Royal Navy statement, the Bulwark's docking in Haifa "demonstrates the growing relationship between the Royal Navy and the "Israeli" Navy and the desire to continue to develop that interaction."

Speaking on board the ship, "Israeli" War Minister Avigdor Liberman told the crowd, "This visit is a sign of the deep cooperation between the UK and ‘Israel'. We enjoy very good cooperation on many levels, including intelligence, and now of course, between our navies. I think that especially today, with what is happening around us in the Middle East, this is a very important visit."

Capt. Parkin told The Jerusalem Post that "We have ‘Israel' Navy colleagues on board right now, learning, getting presentations, and exchanging ideas about operations. We have a great relationship with the ‘Israel' Navy, although it is quite difficult to get a warship out to ‘Israel', but we try to as often as we can. I am very proud that I am in Haifa for the second time in my naval career."

Prior to docking in Haifa, the Bulwark took part in several sea exercises with the apartheid entity's naval troops.

In the Royal Navy statement, British Ambassador to the "Israeli" entity David Quarrey said "I am delighted that HMS Bulwark has been able to call in at ‘Israel' during their current deployment. As part of a strengthening defense relationship with ‘Israel', this visit is evidence of the UK's strong commitment to security in the region."

Quarrey said that the ship is the "symbol of the growing partnership in defense and security between ‘Israel' and the UK... We need to be working together, and this ship symbolizes just that."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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