The Independent has this headline: “Britain punishes Israel for Gaza naval bombardment“. Britain’s “punishment” is to revoke five licenses for arms exports to Israel. The article explains:
The British Government has reacted to Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza last January by barring further exports of components used in naval gunships which took part in the three-week operation.
So, Britain supplies arms components to Israel, which then uses them pretty much as could be expected (which is to say, to inflict murderous punishment upon the helpless and defenseless people of Gaza).
Then when Britain chooses to continue 177 licenses for arms exports to Israel instead of 182 because of their use in criminal activities, this is considered a “punishment”.
Moreover, the article observes that
other British-made components had also been exported to US manufacturers of military equipment that was subsequently sold on to Israel.
These included equipment for the avionics systems – specifically cockpit display units – for F16 aircraft, widely used during Operation Cast Lead for aerial bombing of targets in Gaza.
They also included parts used in the fire control systems of Apache helicopters, as well as navigation units and engine assemblies. Apaches were also regularly used in lethal air attacks during the Gaza operation.
In other words, Britain continues to reward Israel, both directly and indirectly, for its illegal occupation and criminal brutality against the Palestinian people. The propaganda advantage, though, of framing this slightly lessened reward as a “punishment”, though, should be perfectly apparent.
Would that the U.S., too, would “punish” Israel by rewarding it less for engaging in international crimes. It would be nice if the U.S. didn’t reward Israel at all for its crimes. But, alas, the Obama administration has already pledged to continue to do so.
