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US says israel violated cluster bomb use { January 29 2007 }

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   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/29/AR2007012900576.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/29/AR2007012900576.html

U.S. says Israel may have violated cluster bomb use

By Sue Pleming
Reuters
Monday, January 29, 2007; 12:12 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday Israel may have violated an agreement with Washington in its use of U.S.-made cluster bombs during last July's war with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

"There were likely violations," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

He said a preliminary classified report was being sent to the U.S. Congress later on Monday by the State Department indicating possible violations of a "use agreement" between the United States and Israel over the cluster bombs.

He declined to say how Israel had violated U.S. rules in its use of U.S. made rockets armed with cluster bombs in Lebanon. A probe was opened last year after reports that three types of American cluster bombs were found in southern Lebanon and were responsible for civilian deaths.

Cluster bombs burst into bomblets and spread out near the ground. The United Nations has called for a freeze on the use of those bombs in or near populated areas.

Israel has defended its right to use cluster bombs and says it only deploys them in accordance with international law.

"We exercised our right of self-defense," said David Siegel, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

In Jerusalem, Israel Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mark Regev said: "Israel takes the concerns raised by the U.S. very seriously. In our response, we have been as detailed, as forthcoming and transparent as possible."

An Israeli Army spokesman said the Army had begun its own investigation two months ago on its use of cluster bombs and declined comment until after that was complete.

BOMBLETS

Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, if the U.S. government believes a foreign country violated agreements over how U.S-made weapons were used, the administration must draw up a report and send its findings to Congress.

"This is a preliminary finding and because it also involves the agreements about use (of munitions), which are classified, I cannot get into the details," said McCormack.

He said the Israeli government had been "responsive and transparent" in providing information for the report, which also drew information from other unspecified sources.

"This is not a final judgment ... but we do take our obligations under the law very seriously," he said. "We don't flinch from the facts," added McCormack.

The next move is up to Congress, which must decide whether action should be taken against Israel or if further information is needed, said McCormack.

One possibility is that Israel could be fined, but that is unlikely because of the close ties between the two nations.

The United States is the biggest military donor to Israel, providing more than $2 billion in military aid each year.

The United States and Italy are among nations trying to remove tens of thousands of unexploded cluster bomblets in southern Lebanon.

The bombs, which are meant to explode near the ground but often do not, pose a huge danger to displaced civilians trying to return to villages after the 34-day war.

© 2007 Reuters


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