Israel's Use of U.S.-Made Weaponry Under Constant Review: Powell
 |
|
"We are constantly reviewing the manner in which the military equipment that we have provided to the state of Israel is used," Powell said
|
WASHINGTON,
July 26 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Israel's use of U.S.-made
weaponry is under constant review, U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell said Thursday, July 25, amid suggestions that Israel violated
arms control regulations in a widely condemned attack in Gaza this
week, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.
"We
were concerned about the incident," Powell said of the late
Monday, July 22, attack in which a U.S.-made Israeli F-16 dropped a
one-ton bomb on a building in a densely populated poor Gaza City
neighborhood, killing 18 Palestinians, including 11 children.
Israel’s raid targeted Hamas leader Salah Shehada for assassination.
It killed him along with his wife and daughter.
"We
are constantly reviewing the manner in which the military equipment
that we have provided to the state of Israel is used," Powell
said after meeting with Afghanistan's foreign minister and expressing
regret for civilian casualties in U.S. bombings there.
"In
this case, in going after one particular individual in a built-up
area, a number of lives were lost," Powell told reporters, adding
that he was aware that Israeli officials were investigating the
planning and direction of the attack.
The
bombing has drawn fierce criticism from around the world, including a
rare harsh rebuke from the United States, which termed it "heavy
handed."
But
Powell still gave no indication that Israel had violated the U.S. Arms
Export Control Act, which requires the State Department to report to
Congress if it believes that U.S. weaponry has been used for anything
other than "legitimate self-defense or internal security."
However,
his comments came a day after department spokesman Richard Boucher
warned that Israel could face unspecified "consequences" if
it misused U.S. weapons, AFP reported.
Boucher
reiterated that view Thursday, but said Washington was more concerned
about the larger issue of bringing peace to the Middle East than on
legal issues.
"We've
expressed our view," he said, referring to the criticism of the
bombing.
"We're
not seeing this as a legal issue," Boucher said. "We're not
trying to find legalistic technicalities to hang Israel or its lawyers
on.
"We're
looking for ways of contributing to Israel's security and trying to
help Israel achieve what it wants and trying to help the Palestinians
achieve their legitimate aspirations, as well."
A
second State Department official, speaking to AFP on condition of
anonymity on Wednesday, July 24, said a review of the Gaza incident in
relation to the law was likely.
"There
is an expectation that we will take a look at this action in light of
the Arms Export Control Act," the official said.
On
Tuesday, July 23, after some Palestinian officials accused the United
States of complicity in the attack because it had supplied Israel with
the F-16, Washington had been mute on the matter.
A
group of demonstrators gathered Wednesday outside the department's
Foggy Bottom headquarters in Washington to demand that the Gaza attack
be reported to Congress as a violation of the legislation.
|
