UK 'assisted in acts of terror'

2006-08-23 09:09

London - Britain was accused in court on Tuesday of knowingly assisting in "acts of terrorism" by Israel during its month-long conflict with the Shi'ite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Britain was guilty of "aiding and abetting" breaches of international law when it allowed US cargo planes believed to be carrying bombs bound for Israel to stop over at British airports, according to the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) at the high court in London.

The IHRC sought to bring injunction proceedings against the defence secretary Des Browne, the Civil Aviation Authority and the foreign office to stop "grave and serious violations" of international humanitarian law and contraventions of the Geneva Convention.

'Disproportionate' military action

Peter Carter, the lawyer arguing on behalf of the IHRC, said Britain was assisting in "disproportionate" military action which killed and caused terror to civilians who were not directly involved in the conflict.

According to the IHRC, Britain's government knew that the arms being supplied to Israel from the United States would encourage Israel to continue its attacks in the knowledge that supplies would be replenished.

The Israeli attacks were "not justified by military necessity," he argued.

'Acts of terrorism'

"I submit it is more than arguable that some of the acts of the Israeli military amount to acts of terrorism," Carter told the judge, who said he hoped to give judgement by Wednesday.

The IHRC said it was bringing the case "following many complaints that we have received from British citizens whose family members are in Lebanon and facing grave danger as well as acts of terror".

- AFP