Spain slashes arms sales to Israel - daily
Text of report by Spanish newspaper ABC website, on 15 June
Madrid: Since (Prime Minister Jose Luis) Rodriguez Zapatero said on television last January that Spain did not sell "lethal" weapons to Israel - a very debatable issue according to official figures - the announcement has begun to be reflected in the statistics of the secretary of state for trade's office. In the latest report to have arrived at the Congress (of Deputies - lower house of parliament), Israel is included in the "particularly sensitive destination" section and it is stated that in 2008 Spanish companies from the defence sector only exported products to that country to the value of 157,200 euros.
Almost all that amount - 128,170 euros to be precise - is attributed to the sale of "parts for sports guns that an Israeli company assembles for their subsequent re-export to the United States".
Nevertheless, the government acknowledges that there have been shipments "charged to licences authorized in 2007 which were in force". They are "sets of infrared sensor lenses to the value of 2.2m euros which are incorporated into systems which are subsequently re-exported for the United Kingdom's EF-2000 plane (Eurofighter programme), for their delivery to the armed forces of the countries which take part in this programme".
In 2007, the exports amounted to a greater value - 4.4m authorized plus 1.5m carried out - and were also more varied: they included a consignment of gunpowder and 120-mm munitions for the Leopard tank, although the export was only recorded at a price of 113.070 euros.
During the two previous years (2005 and 2006), exports of munitions for M60 and Leopard tanks were registered, as well as missiles for Tiger helicopters, but always on the understanding that it is materiel for laboratory tests or target practice and with consignments which do not exceed 57,497 euros in the case of the tanks or 92,984 euros in that of the Tiger.
Israel does not have Leopard tanks in the army, but the two last generations of its Merkava present in the conflict zones, such as Gaza or the West Bank, are equipped with guns of the same calibre as the Spanish Leopard: 120 mm. The sale of sports guns has been a permanent feature in the exports of the domestic industry to Israel since they began being registered in 2004.
The report that the secretary of state for trade's office has sent to the Congress on Spanish companies' sales of arms and other defence materiel to foreign countries is being analysed by the opposition so as to present its draft resolutions on the data provided. Ignacio Cosido, for the PP (main opposition Popular Party), has said he will ask the government for a more thorough monitoring of the exports of dual-use materiel (civil or military) to countries such as Iran, which is our main customer.
In addition, the PP deputy will call on the government to take special care so that police and anti-riot equipment is not used in countries under regimes which are not very respectful of human rights (Venezuela or Cuba) and he will also propose that the government include in the reports the donations of products of possible military use to other countries.
