 |
David Vance is the editor of , an online Unionist newsletter that seeks to help maintain Northern Ireland as an integral part of the United Kingdom.
|
|
|
|
By David Vance
September 2, 2002
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has strengthened his reputation as a reliable friend of the Palestinians with the recent British decision to prevent arms exports to Israel. A secret memo from the British Government's Export Control Director Jeremy Clayton to a senior Israeli government official confirms that Britain will no longer permit the export of specified military equipment.
Mr. Clayton revealed where his sympathies clearly lie when he said, "We have taken account Israeli military tactics in our licensing decisions...the outbreak of the Intifada, the continued Israeli incursions into the occupied territories and the breach of Israeli assurances...these have all been factored into the Government decision." Not one mention of the killing blitzkrieg against innocent Israeli men women and children led by Arafat's terrorist legions has been "factored" into this decision. This is from a UK administration that boasts of its "ethical foreign policy!"
The United Kingdom sells parts for fighter planes, helicopters, bombs, anti-tank missiles and large caliber ammunition to Israel. Therefore this latest decision is problematic for the Israeli military. Brigadier General Yekutiel Mor, deputy director-general of foreign affairs at the Israeli Defense Ministry, confirmed that "We are having problems with approval. The British are raising difficulties with export licenses. We are trying to resolve them." Apparently Shimon Peres is trying to get Mr. Blair to overturn this ban, but he has little chance of success.
Resolution lies far from the mind of UK Liberals such as Foreign Affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell who pointed out: "I'm not surprised that Government is going to tighten up on arms exports to Israel. It's not before time."
Not a week goes by without these spineless senior UK politicians, across the political spectrum, being given endless media opportunities to denounce Israel for the heinous crime of defending itself. They cannot understand why the beleaguered Israeli state does not just lie down and die. These talking heads all agree that Israel is fundamentally at fault for not granting Arafat his every wish, including the demise of the Israeli State.
This crackdown on Israel by Blair may not be enough to ward off further political agitation by British Labour Party members, known for their vehement hatred of Israel, and the Sharon administration in particular. They will demand further action be taken when the British Labour Party conference is held this autumn. Blair may well be open to further methods of punishing Israel.
It is only a few months since Tony Blair's wife, at a Palestinian fund raiser, commented on her "understanding" of the suicide bombers having "little choice" but to murder Israelis. It is not hard to see why Palestinian propaganda is treated as fact by the UK Labour Party, and why Israeli explanations are met with a barrage of invective and aggression.
Appeasement of terrorism has entered into the soul of the UK political establishment. It is inconceivable to this craven cabal that a nation like Israel has the moral strength and political determination to confront and root out terrorists. Rather than offer military support to the democratically elected Israeli government, the UK decision to ban weapons that the Israeli military needs is a clear demonstration of the moral bankruptcy that prevails in No. 10 Downing Street, London.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
