UK slammed on Israeli abuse

The call from the charity followed foreign secretary Margaret Beckett’s admission that Israel has violated the human rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The admission came as the Foreign Office launched its annual report on human rights in which the government highlighted:

• targeted killings of Palestinians by the Israeli army
• the firing of artillery shells near populated areas of the Gaza Strip, which have killed civilians
• the continued building of settlements in the West Bank
• the impact of the Separation Wall, declared illegal by the International Court of Justice
• crossing-point closures
• settlers’ violence
• the intimidation and harassment of Palestinians

Louise Richards, War on Want chief executive, said: “Despite acknowledging the extent of Israeli human rights abuses, the British government has approved record arms sales to Israel worth £22.5m in 2005 and continues to reward Israel with preferential trade access under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

“Ministers should now halt all British arms sales to Israel and call for the suspension of trade preferences forthwith.”

End

CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media office – (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Further information is available at www.waronwant.org The charity is a member of the coalition Stop Arming Israel (www.stoparmingisrael.org)