Arab American Institute Urges State Dept. to Reject Israeli Cluster Bomb Request

Human Rights Watch Documents Israeli Use in Civilian Areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aug. 11, 206—The Arab American Institute (AAI) urges the State Department to reject Israel’s request for the speedy delivery of M-26 munitions, so called cluster bombs, because of Israel’s documented use of such weapons in concentrated civilian areas in Lebanon.

The New York Times reported today that Israeli officials have requested extra shipments of cluster bombs to be used in Lebanon, where already more than 800 civilians have been killed in Israel’s month-long offensive there. 

Human Rights Watch recently documented Israel’s use of these weapons in the village of Blida, where a 60-year-old woman was killed inside her home and at least 12 civilians, including seven children, were wounded.

“We’re obviously concerned about the reports because of Israel’s track record both in this war and previous wars,” said AAI President James Zogby. “President Reagan suspended the transfer of these same munitions to Israel because of their use against civilians in 1982.

“I myself cared for scores of children who lost their limbs because of these weapons,” Zogby added. “It was unconscionable then, and it is unconscionable now for the U.S. to supply these weapons to Israel.”

According to Human Rights Watch, Israel used several hundred such artillery-fired cluster bombs on July 19 in the village of Blida, in south Lebanon.

“The cluster attack killed 60-year-old Maryam Ibrahim inside her home,” Human Rights Watch reported. “At least two submunitions from the attack entered the basement that the Ali family was using as a shelter, wounding 12 persons, including seven children. Ahmed Ali, a 45-year-old taxi driver and head of the family, lost both legs from injuries caused by the cluster munitions. Five of his children were wounded: Mira, 16; Fatima, 12; ‘Ali, 10; Aya, 3; and `Ola, 1. His wife Akram Ibrahim, 35, and his mother-in-law `Ola Musa, 80, were also wounded. Four relatives, all German-Lebanese dual nationals sheltering with the family, were wounded as well: Mohammed Ibrahim, 45; his wife Fatima, 40; and their children ‘Ali, 16, and Rula, 13.”

Human Rights Watch had earlier inspected and photographed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) artillery teams on the Israel-Lebanon border and documented the presence of a specific type of cluster bomb produced and supplied by the U.S.

Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent.  AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities. For more information on AAI, please visit http://www.aaiusa.org