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Lebanon/Israel: Urgent need
for arms embargo on Israel and Hizbullah
By: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
As civilians continue to bear the brunt of
the conflict in Israel and
Lebanon, Amnesty International called for an
immediate arms embargo on
both Israel and Hizbullah.
Amnesty International is gravely concerned
about the continuing transfer
of weapons from the US, via the UK, as
information emerged that a UK
airport is being used by USA cargo planes on
their way to deliver
munitions to Israel.
"The pattern of attacks and the extent of
civilian casualties show a
blatant disregard of international
humanitarian law by Israel and
Hizbullah," said Irene Khan, Amnesty
International Secretary General.
"Direct targeting of civilians and civilian
infrastructure and launching
indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks
amount to war crimes."
"Governments supplying Israel and Hizbullah
with arms and military
equipment are fuelling their capacity to
commit war crimes. All
governments should impose an arms embargo on
both sides and refuse
permission for their territories to be used
for the transfer of arms and
military equipment."
UK media have reported that two chartered
Airbus A310 cargo planes filled
with GBU 28 laser-guided bombs containing
depleted uranium (DU) warheads
and destined for the Israeli airforce landed
at Prestwick airport, near
Glasgow. The planes landed for refuelling
and crew rests after flying from
the US this past weekend.
Other reports claimed that the USA has
requested that two more planes be
permitted to land in the UK en route to
Israel in the next two weeks. The
reports said the aircraft will be carrying
other weapons, including bombs
and missiles.
"The UK government should refuse permission
for its sea and air ports to
be used by planes or ships carrying arms and
military equipment destined
for Israel or Hizbullah," said Ms Khan as
Amnesty International wrote to
the UK's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett.
The organization also called
on the UK to suspend the sale or transfer of
all arms and military
equipment to Israel.
"It is ridiculous to talk about providing
humanitarian aid on the one
hand, and to provide arms on the other. In
the face of such human
suffering in Lebanon and Israel, it is
imperative that all governments
stop the supply of arms and weapons to both
sides immediately," stated Ms
Khan. |
