UK Impose Partial Arms Embargo On The Zionist Entity

Al-Qassam website\Agencies - Britain has slapped a partial arms embargo on the Zionist entity, refusing to supply replacement parts and other equipment for Sa'ar 4.5 gunships because they participated in the war on the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

Britain's Foreign Office informed Zionist entity’s embassy in London of the sanctions a few days ago. The embassy, in a classified telegram to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said the decision stemmed from heavy pressure by both members of Parliament and human rights organizations.

The embargo followed a government review of all British defense exports to the Zionist entity, which was announced three months ago. In total, the telegram said, Britain reviewed 182 licenses for arms exports to the Zionist entity, including 35 for exports to the Zionist Navy. But it ultimately decided to cancel only five licenses, all relating to the Sa'ar 4.5 ships. The licenses in question apparently cover spare parts for the ship's guns.

The British said the embargo was imposed because these ships participated in the last war on the Gaza strip. In so doing, the British claimed, they violated the security agreements between Britain and the Zionist entity, which specifies what use may be made of British equipment.

Last week, Britain's foreign and defense ministries informed the relevant companies that they would have to cease their planned arms deals with the Zionist navy.

Ever since the war on Gaza, British MPs and nongovernmental organizations have been trying to persuade London to impose a complete arms embargo on the Zionist entity. However, the British government has rejected this demand.

In February, Amnesty International published a report on arms sales to the Zionist entity in which it highlighted Britain's role in supplying engines for Hermes 450 drones. According to Amnesty, the Zionist entity uses these drones to conduct assassinations in Gaza. The report prompted the Palestinian organization Al-Haq to file a suit against the British government, arguing that British arms sales facilitate Israeli crimes in Gaza.

In April, Foreign Secretary David Miliband informed Parliament that Britain would reexamine all its defense exports to the Zionist entity in light of the war on Gaza. A Zionist Foreign Ministry official said that since then, Britain's military attaché in the Zionist entity has requested information on the uses the Zionist entity made of various types of British-supplied equipment during the offensive.

Foreign Ministry officials said that only a small percentage of the Zionist imports come from Britain. According to data supplied by Britain's department of trade, these sales total some 20 million pounds - about NIS 130 million.

The British embargo is not expected to have any impact on the navy's operational capability. However, it has great political significance, and could encourage other countries to halt exports to the Zionist entity. The country considered most likely to be next is Belgium, which sells the Zionist entity equipment used to disperse demonstrations.

In response the British Embassy in Tel Aviv issued a statement saying, "On 21 April 2009 the Foreign Secretary issued a Written Ministerial Statement about U.K. exports to the Zionist entity which may have been used by the Zionist occupation Forces during the war on Gaza. This statement makes clear that all exports are subject to stringent controls.

"This said we consistently urge the Zionist entity to act with restraint and supported the EU Presidency statement that called the Zionist actions during operation Cast Lead 'disproportionate.' "

Source : www.alqassam.ps/english/