HL Deb 10 December 1996 vol 576 c88WA
Lord Mayhew

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have sold, or agreed to sell, arms to the Government of Israel.

Earl Howe

We support the sale of equipment overseas by British defence manufacturers unless there are compelling political, security or strategic reasons for not doing so. Applications for the export of defence equipment to Israel are considered on a case by case basis in the light of these considerations and the international guidelines to which we are committed agreed by the Five Permanent Members of the Security Council of the United Nations, with other EU member states and in the (then) Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. Details of sales subsequently achieved are a matter for the companies themselves.