US
to 'contribute anti-tank missiles
to Israel
Palestine Media Center
4 July 2002
The United States is to provide Israel with 2,000 TOW anti-tank
missiles, which the occupation army has regularly used in helicopter
air strikes against Palestinian targets and assassination attacks.
The $80 million comes as part of a military aid package, which
the Pentagon announced would "contribute to US national Security
by enhancing the security of a friend".
The missiles, which weigh 19 kilograms and have a 3-4 kilometre
range have been responsible for the gruesome deaths of most of the
almost 100 assassinated Palestinian activists as well as a number
of innocent bystanders, including two children. They are also mounted
and used by Israeli tanks.
In one incident, Israeli occupation forces murdered three children,
their mother, as well as two children aged 16 and four in an assassination
attempt against a Hamas political activist in Ramallah.
Regulations governing American military aid forbid the Administration
from providing arsenal to a state that is likely to use it in military
conflict or against civilians. Various attempts by non-governmental
organizations and a number of Congress members to pressure Congress
into requiring Israel not to use weapons provided by American military
aid against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory have
thus far failed.
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