Govt urged to halt arms exports to Israel
The government last night faced calls to stop selling arms to Israel, after new figures show the value of exports to the Jewish state almost doubled last year.
More than £22 million worth of arms exports was approved by ministers last year, according to the government’s latest strategic export control report.
The figures came as Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell urged Tony Blair to halt all exports to Israel given the country’s “disproportionate” actions in Lebanon and Gaza.
Today marks the 14th day of hostilities in the Middle East, in which almost 400 Lebanese people and almost 40 Israelis have been killed as the Israeli military and Hezbullah fire rockets at each other across the border.
The export report, published by four government departments including the Department for Trade and Industry, shows licences were approved to sell components for military training aircraft, air-to-surface missiles and naval radars last year.
In his letter, Sir Menzies cited the Foreign Office’s arms export licensing criteria that say licences should not be issued for exports where weapons may be used for internal repression or international aggression, or pose a risk to regional stability.
The rules also state that the recipient’s respect for international law must be taken into consideration when granting an arms export licence, including its compliance with international law on the prohibition of the use of force or on humanitarian issues.
He wrote: “The United Nations secretary general and the presidency of the European Union have condemned Israel’s use of force in Lebanon and Gaza as disproportionate.
“Kofi Annan has said attacks in Lebanon are inflicting collective punishment on the Lebanese people and the UN emergency relief co-ordinator has described attacks on Beirut as a ‘violation of humanitarian law’.
“The government must now comply with its own arms export rules and institute an immediate suspension of all UK arms exports to Israel.”
Meanwhile, the UK government yesterday increased its commitment to the Lebanon humanitarian relief effort to £5 million, as international development secretary Hilary Benn warned of the growing crisis in the country and in Gaza.
“A humanitarian crisis is developing in the Middle East as a direct result of the violence. Insecurity is continuing, casualties are rising, and damage to vital infrastructure is affecting sanitation and the health of civilians,” he warned.
“In Lebanon, insecurity and damaged infrastructure are making it difficult to reach the vast number of people in need of medical care, food and water; with at least half a million estimated by the UN to be displaced in southern Lebanon.
“I support proposals by the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross for safe humanitarian access, but ultimately the security situation needs to stabilise in order to ensure that vital assistance can get where it is needed.”
Yesterday Tony Blair again refused to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region, but said the international community would come up with a plan in the next few days on how to help stop hostilities.
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