No Script

Please Wait...

Ramadan Kareem...

UK Gov’t to Block Arms Exports to ’Israel’ if Military Aggression Resumes

UK Gov’t to Block Arms Exports to ’Israel’ if Military Aggression Resumes
folder_openEurope... access_time9 years ago
starAdd to favorites

Local Editor

The British government will suspend some of its arms exports to "Israel" if hostilities resume in seized Gaza due to concerns that the British-made products could be used by the "Israel" War Forces.

UK Gov’t to Block Arms Exports to ’Israel’ if Military Aggression Resumes
The business department said a review of UK exports to "Israel" had identified the 12 licences for "components which could be part of equipment used by the "Israel" [War] Forces in [seized] Gaza." They include equipment for military radar, combat aircraft and tanks.

The British business secretary, Vince Cable, said: "...The UK government has not been able to clarify if the export licence criteria are being met. In light of that uncertainty we have taken the decision to suspend these existing export licences in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities."

"No new licences of military equipment have been issued for use by the "Israeli" [War] Forces during the review period, and as a precautionary measure this approach will continue until hostilities cease."

Moreover, the export suspension comes after a long battle within the coalition over restricting arms sales to "Israel." British Prime Minister David Cameron and the foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, have been resisting demands from Cable and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg calling for the immediate suspension of exports.

Lady Warsi stood down as a foreign office minister recently last week in anger at the British government's failure to suspend arms exports and condemn "Israel's" offensives in seized Gaza.

Furthermore, arms-control campaigners say that two UK companies, including UAV Engines, were given permission to supply components for the Hermes drones which military experts say have been used in the ongoing conflict in seized Gaza. According to its website, UAV Engines, a subsidiary of "Israeli" war contractor Elbit, manufactures engines for "various size tactical UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], target drones and single mission platforms."

Following Operation Cast Lead, "Israel's" 2008 aggression on seized Gaza, the UK has admitted that equipment used by the "Israeli" military during the operation had almost certainly contained British-made components.

Details published last month in July by the Commons committees on arms export controls [CAEC] show one licence has been issued in relation to the US-built joint strike fighter [JSF] program, which is due to start arriving in "Israel" from 2016, with the first aircraft becoming operational in 2018.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

Comments