A group of British lawmakers are expected to call
Tuesday for the reevaluation of arms deals with Israel after a recently
published report claimed that British weapons were “almost certainly”
used in Operation Cast Lead in December 2008, the British daily news
website The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
“It is regrettable that arms exports to Israel were almost certainly
used in Operation Cast Lead,” The Guardian quoted a report published by
the Commons committee on strategic export controls.
“This is in direct contravention to the U.K. government’s policy
that U.K. arms exports to Israel should not be used in the occupied
territories,” the report said.
According to the report, U.K. arms deals with Israel in 2008
totaled at over £27.5 million, and over £4 million worth of government
exporting licenses, The Guardian reported.
The equipment sold by the U.K. to Israel apparently included
components in cockpit displays in United States F-16 combat aircrafts
and other parts installed in the U.S. Apache helicopters purchased by
Israel and used during the Gaza offensive, the report concluded.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the government was
looking into all existing licenses to see whether they adjust, adding
that th…
