Among the government's post-attack decisions was a refusal to allow a PA delegation to participate in an important London conference later this month. Great Britain has registered a protest, but Finance Minister Silvan Shalom explained today that the Israeli decision is designed to prevent the PLO terrorists from presenting themselves around the world as seekers of peace.
England's protest follows on the heels of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's refusal to meet with Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu; Blair's red-carpet hosting of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad; and a British embargo on the sale to Israel of critical spare parts for the Phantom fighter-bomber jets. Israeli officials recently said that their fleet of 140 F-4 Phantoms might have to be grounded because of the embargo. "We are desperately searching for other sources," said a Defense Ministry spokesperson, "but we haven't found any yet."
England's protest follows on the heels of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's refusal to meet with Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu; Blair's red-carpet hosting of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad; and a British embargo on the sale to Israel of critical spare parts for the Phantom fighter-bomber jets. Israeli officials recently said that their fleet of 140 F-4 Phantoms might have to be grounded because of the embargo. "We are desperately searching for other sources," said a Defense Ministry spokesperson, "but we haven't found any yet."