"Israel" sets dubious record for use of deadly cluster bombs

Source: Daily Star, 01-2-2007
BEIRUT: "Israel`s" use of cluster munitions in South Lebanon was the most extensive anywhere in the world since the 1991 Gulf War, Human Rights Watch said earlier this week. "We`ve investigated cluster munitions in Kosovo, Afghan-istan, and Iraq, but we`ve never seen use of cluster munitions that was so extensive and dangerous to civilians," said Steve Goose, director of the arms division at Human Rights Watch.
Preliminary US government findings said "Israel" may have violated arms agreements with the United States through its use of cluster munitions in Lebanon last summer.
"The issue is not whether "Israel" used the American cluster munitions lawfully, but what the US is going to do about it," Goose said.
The UN Mine Action Coordination Center has said that the majority of the cluster bombs - up to 4 million - fired on South Lebanon are US-made.
Human Rights Watch urged the US government to require that "Israel" make public detailed information regarding the quantities, types, and locations where cluster munitions were used. Efforts to clear these deadly remnants of war have been delayed by "Israel`s" refusal to provide such information to de-miners.
The Reagan administration imposed a six-year ban on cluster-weapon sales to "Israel" in 1982, after a congressional investigation found that "Israel" had used the weapons in populated areas during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon. The current controversy surrounding the sale of US cluster munitions to "Israel" erupted in August 2006, when "Israel" requested that the US expedite delivery of over 1,300 surface-launched M26 artillery rockets for use in Lebanon.
On February 22 and 23, about 40 nations will convene in Norway to begin a process to negotiate a new international treaty prohibiting cluster munitions, which cause unacceptable harm to civilians. At least 74 nations maintain stockpiles.
In the past, the United States, the United Kingdom and "Israel" have made extensive use of cluster munitions, but many other nations may do so if the weapon is not regulated.
"There`s a growing international consensus about the dangers to civilians of cluster munitions," said Goose. "The US government should be joining the trend, not bucking it. Banning cluster munitions sales to "Israel", or any other nation, would be an important first step."
Human Rights Watch observed from extensive research in Lebanon after the summer war that the "Israeli" military launched many of its cluster munitions at or near towns and villages, in many cases with no evident military objective.
Many of the cluster munitions used by "Israel" also failed to explode, leaving behind an estimated 1 million bomblets. UNMACC has cleared over 95,000 cluster munitions and expects the clearance to last until December 2007. The bomblets have killed more than 30 innocent civilians since the end of the war and wounded 184.