Arms Dealers for South Africa

The arms industries in six Western nations and in Israel have continued to supply weapons to South Africa despite commitments of the seven governments to adhere to the mandatory sanctions imposed by the United Nations, the State Department has reported to Congress.

In addition, sources within the State Department have reported that Israel made available military personnel to instruct South Africans in conventional military tactics and anti-terrorism procedures. Conventional military targets and anti-terrorism programs in South Africa have the same target: the black majority seeking political rights.

Israel has justified its role as arms supplier on the ground that it desperately needs the money earned by this lucrative export. But it has agreed to phase out the existing contracts as they expire over the next few years, and to undertake no new agreements. That is not a satisfactory response. The economic exigencies of Israel pale alongside the repression and exploitation under which the black majority in South Africa exists.

France, Italy, West Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Britain were the other sources of arms cited in the State Department report. France, Italy and Israel were identified as the main sources in this illicit operation. Only Israel appeared to have had direct government-to-government dealings in defiance of the U.N. sanctions.

The information was gathered by the State Department in response to the requirements of the legislation last year that imposed American sanctions on South Africa for the first time. The fact-finding was intended to force the United States to act against nations in violation of the U.N. sanctions. So it should.