§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow), Official Report, 15 June, c. 270, he will list the specific complaints which he has made to the Government of Israel regarding allegations of military supplies reaching Argentina from Israel during the Falklands conflict; what specific weapons were alleged to have been supplied, on what dates and in what places; whether any of the allegations were to the 80W effect that the Government of Israel themselves had supplied the weapons or had knowingly approved such sales by Israeli citizens; what response he received to each of these allegations from the Government of Israel; and whether he accepted that response in each case as being a full and factual description of events.
§ Mr. HurdWe have taken up with the Israeli Government the following reports alleging the supply of military equipment to Argentina from Israeli sources. All appear to concern. Israeli companies or agents:
- (a) The supply of Bell military helicopters.
- (b) The shipment of military equipment from Tel Aviv to Buenos Aires via Zurich.
- (c) The suspected shipment of military equipment in a special charter flight from Tel Aviv to Montevideo for transshipment to Argentina.
- (d) The supply of Mirage fuel tanks via Luxembourg, the Bahamas and Peru for transfer to Argentina.
- (e) Negotiations involving Argentine and Israeli arms dealers for the supply of laser-guided bombs from Israel to Argentina.
- (f) The supply of Gabriel missiles via Peru to Argentina.
- (g) An attempt by a Panamanian bank, allegedly acting on Argentina's behalf, to arrange a letter of credit worth $50 million with Israeli weapons manufacturers.
The Israeli Government have informed us that no Bell military helicopters have been or will be made available from Israeli sources and that no Gabriel ship-to-ship missiles nor any other missile systems had been sold to Argentina. They have also taken the initiative in informing us that certain press reports of other supplies reaching Argentina from Israel are without foundation. As regards the other reports, the Israeli Government have given a general assurance that no new contracts for the supply of arms to Argentina would be signed while the Falklands crisis lasted and that deliveries under existing contracts would not be speeded up. They have not felt able to provide details of what is being supplied under existing contracts but have assured us that such supplies need cause the Government no concern.