AI calls for suspension of U.S. weapons transfers to Israel

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August 2002

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Amnesty International renews call
for suspension of U.S. weapons transfers to Israel
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) on July 23 condemned the Israeli Defence Forces' air strike in Gaza, in which a missile fired from an F-16 killed at least 15 people, including nine children, and wounded more than 80 others, many seriously.

"This attack was disproportionate and is utterly unacceptable," said Curt Goering, Senior Deputy Executive Director of AIUSA. “Suspension of U.S. weapons transfers to Israel is evidently essential to preventing their use against civilians and others protected by the Geneva Conventions.”

AIUSA reiterated its call on President Bush to suspend all transfers to Israel of weapons used to commit human rights violations until their use is clearly in compliance with the terms of the arms transfers as expressed in US law and bilateral agreements.

"U.S. policy and mediation efforts must include recognition of the U.S.'s own contribution to human rights abuses raging in this region,” added Goering. “Once again, U.S.-made and supplied weapons, such as missiles and F-16s, have been used to commit human rights violations, and such use is a violation of U.S. law."

The Arms Export Control Act prohibits U.S. weapons from being used for non-defensive purposes. AIUSA called on the Bush Administration to clarify whether it is collecting information on Israeli military and police units implicated in human rights abuses, particularly units using U.S. helicopters in extrajudicial executions and U.S. fighter aircraft attacking civilian areas.

Israeli misuse of U.S.-supplied weapons has previously led to suspension of weapons transfers. In 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982, the President of the United States found Israel in violation of the Arms Export Control Act or of bilateral defense agreements, issuing a report to Congress with those findings. In 1981, transfers of F-15 and F-16 aircraft were temporarily suspended as a result of Israeli violations.

Leading Hamas activist Salah Shehada was among those killed by the missile attack. Israel believes Salah Shehada to have been responsible for organizing a number of suicide attacks, and Hamas has claimed responsibility for more than 20 attacks against civilians since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa intifada in September 2000. Amnesty International has condemned these attacks by Palestinian armed groups as crimes against humanity and reiterated today that these groups must not retaliate against Israeli civilians.

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