|
|
|
|
|
TITLE: US to Investigate Possible Israeli Weapons Violations |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: Jerusalem Post |
DATE: February 21, 2001 |
|
The US State Department will review Israel's use of US weapons in its campaign against alleged Palestinian terrorists. The review will attempt to determine whether Israel has violated the Arms Export Control Act by using US munitions against Palestinians believed to have plotted terrorist attacks, reported UPI. Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon have defended the targeting of suspected terrorists as necessary in light of the recent surge of terrorist attacks. US law restricts exported arms to internal security or defensive use only and obligates the president to determine whether arms exports lead to an escalation in violence. Secretary of State Colin Powell has criticized Israel's policy of targeting suspected terrorists, saying that the Israeli attacks have perpetuated violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Despite previous requests by Arab-American advocacy groups, no action was taken by former US President Bill Clinton to investigate Israeli use of American-supplied weaponry. "We are a new administration and we are looking at things a little differently," said a State Department source. "We have a responsibility to make sure that U.S. weaponry provided to Israel or any other country is used under the conditions of the Arms Export Control Act." Palestinian leaders accused Israeli forces of using poison gas against Palestinian demonstrators last week. Israel flatly denied the allegations, adding that the IDF uses only tear gas as a non-lethal means of dispersing violent demontrations. END |