The Government has approved the decree for the embargo of weapons to Israel for the genocide that Benjamin Netanyahu is perpetrating in Gaza. The Minister of Economy and Commerce, Carlos Body, has presented the text that also includes a prohibition of importing products from the occupied Palestinian territories. Body has assured that it is a “total embargo”, although it leaves out the express denial of authorizations to scale the ships that transport weapons.
Prohibited buying and selling weapons to Israel
The decree establishes the prohibition of buying and selling weapons to Israel. “Exports destined for Israel are prohibited and the imports from Israel of the material included in the annexes of the Foreign Trade Control Regulations of Defense Material, other material and products and two -use technologies,” he says in its article 1. These annexes collect all types of armament (rifles, grenades, ammunition, combat cars, missiles, etc.) as well as the mechanisms and materials necessary for their operation.
Since when?
The prohibition enters into force the day after the publication of the decree law in the Official State Gazette. Now, it includes a “retroactivity” clause. This new regulation will serve as a legal ammunition for the denial of applications pending authorization or revocation of the already in force, although it is not automatic, but will follow the processing established in the Law on the Control of the Foreign Trade of Defense and Double Use Material, in the first case; and may be terminated, in the second case, by virtue of that same law.
In any case, this regulation could already be applied, which gives the possibility of revoking licenses, among other situations, “when there are rational indications that the defense material, the other material or the products and double -use technologies can be used in actions that disturb peace, stability or safety in a world or regional area, they can exacerbate latent tensions or conflicts, they can be used in an opposite way to the respect and dignity of the human being, for internal repression purposes or in situations of human rights violation (…) ”.
On the traffic of fuel and armament by Spain
The decree clearly establishes the prohibition that the fuel used by the Israeli armed forces transit through Spanish territory. “Traffic authorization requests will be denied to Israel fuel,” says article 2.
However, what does not include in similar terms is the prohibition that the armament that other countries exports or imports Israel transits. The Government alleges that this possibility is already collected in the regulations in force by virtue of the “foreign policy” and that “it is what is being done” by preventing the stop of ships in Spanish ports, at least in cases where there have been public complaints of social organizations and media, including eldiario.es.
The US threat
This express prohibition is out of the decree and, therefore, to the Albur of the authorities of the authorities at all times, although the Minister of Economy has assured that the government's claim is to maintain that refusal and that the embargo of weapons implies a “reinforcement” to that decision.
The truth is that Spain faces reprisals by the US. The Federal Maritime Commission opened an investigation Because of the refusal to armament ships for Israel, it stopped in Spanish ports, including two Americans, considering that it had harmed that country's foreign trade. “The commission can impose important sanctions, including substantial daily fines and the prohibition that foreign ships stopping in US ports,” says the agency in a statement.
Is it a total embargo?
The Minister of Economy has assured that it is a “total embargo”, but with respect to the scales it is not explicitly prohibited. Thus, the Arms Trade Agreement establishes that international trade activities cover “export, import, transit, transford and brokerage.”
Nor is the ships prevent the US military bases in broken and Morón for those transits, because it would mean the melon of treaties with that country for the operation of these spaces.
In addition, the Government reserves the ability to raise the embargo, that is, to export or import weapons for reasons of “national interest.” Body has assured that they will be “punctual and exceptional” occasions. However, the appearance every three months of the government in Congress is expected to account for “in particular” on these possible extraordinary authorizations.
How is Israel's footprint from the products of settlements?
The decree also includes the prohibition of importing products from settlements illegally occupied by Israel. The technical problem that the government found to limit the tickets is that Israel merchants with the products without identifying the origin and camouflage under the label “Made in Israel”. “If a state cannot determine whether a product is made in a settlement or in the state of Israel, it has the right to prohibit the trade of that product. In many ways, Israel not only does not distinguish, but tries to cover up the traces of the settlements,” he said in an interview at Eldiario.es Chris Fruit, one of the experts in charge of preparing an independent report on the genocide for the UN.
The new regulations will force the statements of merchandise from Israel to include “the postal code and the town corresponding to their place of origin”. In order for that prerogative, the State Tax Administration Agency “will approve the list of localities and postal codes corresponding to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory”
Companies continue to benefit from the occupation
However, the companies that benefit from the occupation are many more, not only those that have a presence in the settlements, but those that collaborate with Israel. And there does not enter the decree. Amnesty International developed a list of 15 companies that “contribute to the illegal occupation, to the genocide or other crimes of International Law of Israel.” One of them is the Spanish CAF, who participates in the lightwail that joins the western part of Jerusalem with illegal settlements. They also mention Boeing, whose guidance use has been used in air attacks.
Another criticism is that no other contracts are broken. “It does not affect the contracts awarded to the Israeli military industry or its subsidiaries. It is not prohibited that Israeli companies hire with the Spanish public administration. Nor to financial assistance, technological collaboration or military cooperation,” says the campaign for the end of the arms trade, in which more than 600 social entities participate.