Row over UK sales for Israel jets

UK's BAE Systems supplies the heads-up display for U.S. F-16 jets sold to Israel

LONDON, England (CNN) -- British officials are being accused of cynically changing the rules on arms deals by letting a UK company supply components for U.S. warplanes sold to Israel.

Human rights groups are protesting, and angry Labour MPs are demanding further explanation from officials who drafted new guidelines on arms exports.

Britain supplies more arms than any other country except the United States, which leads to constant tensions with campaigners who demand that the Labour government should live up to its promise to operate an "ethical" foreign policy.

BAE Systems, the UK's largest arms company, supplies heads-up display units for U.S. F-16 fighters sold to Israel.

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Prime Minister Tony Blair's office says the units amount to no more than 1 percent of the aircraft and that the deal reflects the "new reality" of multinational defence projects.

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Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who drew up the new guidelines with Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, told parliamentarians the supply of the units was part of a longstanding collaboration.

"Any interruption in the supply of these components would have serious implications for the UK's defence relations with the U.S.," he declared in a written statement to MPs.

The realpolitik nature of the decision, which is likely to anger other governments in the European Union, was emphasised by Straw's declaration that the UK-U.S. defence relationship was fundamental to Britain's security.

Blair's spokesman talked of the "strong and dynamic" relationship with the United States.

If there were any doubts about the UK's reliability as a supplier, he argued, Washington would "go elsewhere" on the Joint Strike Fighter programme, which is due to supply U.S. and UK combat planes in the next decade.

About 80,000 jobs in Britain are dependent on the arms trade. But some MPs insist the F-16 component sales should be suspended at a time of such tensions in the Middle East.

They argue Britain should not supply anything that makes it easier for Israel to occupy Palestinian Authority territories.

There was particular anger that Straw announced the change only in a written answer and did not volunteer a statement in the House of Commons, where he could be questioned.

MPs suggest the new guidelines contravene the EU arms code, which forbids sales that might lengthen conflicts or imperil the peace of a region. Britain subscribes to the code.

A similar controversy arose recently over British plans to sell Hawk training jets to India.

Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, called the government's change of rules "a rushed and reactive change of policy to provide maximum flexibility and minimum accountability."

The Conservative opposition urged caution, insisting on a proper distinction between arms needed for the protection of a state and those that could be used for internal repression.

The controversy is likely to lead to renewed demands that arms exports should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.