Seems like a non-issue.
Argentina having been a safe harbor for Nazis fleeing Europe after WW II.
But arms dealing make strange bedfellows (to slaughter a phrase)
The British government's National Archives department released the files dated November 16, 1984, which include a memorandum from a senior British diplomat who provided details on the Israeli arms sales to Argentina, the London-based Telegraph reported Wednesday.
“Israel was one of the few countries to supply Argentina with arms during the Falklands conflict and has continued to do so,” wrote C.W. Long, the UK Foreign Office's then head of the Near East and North Africa region, in one of the documents.
The now disclosed files further substantiate claims made in a book published in 2011 that purported to expose Israel's armament of General Leopoldo Galtieri's Argentine junta forces by secretly routing weapons shipments to Buenos Aires via Peru. In his book Operation Israel, Argentine journalist Hernan Dobry wrote of the Israeli weapons sales during the war and Jerusalem's denial at the time of such actions.
The newly-released files that list evidence cited by British diplomats also reportedly note that Israel provided military equipment, including bomber jets, to Argentina's junta prior to the war and continued with the exports for years thereafter.
The declassified records add that Israel was prepared to sell espionage aircraft to the junta, and that former British foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe had called for the exchange not to be implemented.
However, the logs show that Long believed that Israel would pay no heed to the British request.
“I do not believe the Israelis are to be moved on this issue,” the Telegraph quoted him as writing. “This is not satisfactory, but Israeli interests in Argentina will outweigh any readiness they might otherwise feel to be helpful to us.”
At the time, ties were strained between allies Britain and Israel over the First Lebanon War while charges emerged that then Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin had approved the weapons' supply to Argentina.
The Argentine military dictatorship, or junta, that ruled at the time faced increased opposition following their defeat in the ten-week conflict over the sovereignty of the Falkland islands, and relinquished power the next year in 1983.
"Just prior" to the 10-week (1982) war, the junta relinquished power in 1983, and continued providing (a different Argentinian government) arms years later (1984).
Any country which is drowning in debt of $20 TRILLION = $63,492 debt for every man, woman & child, has no business aiding anyone. Take care of your own first! OTOH if we had a surplus in the Treasury, Israel should be at the top of list for aid.
The US under hussein gave weapons to isis and al queda. Which is worse?
Israel was perhaps paying back the Brits for their relentless attacks against their nation from 1947-49 by the Labour government. In any case this was/is between those two nations, not us, but the UK, in league with assorted Arab nations, nearly killed of Israel in its infancy.
Odd. The UK has been such a staunch ally to Israel. /s
Recent UK “Blood Money” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blood-money-uk-s-123bn-arms-sales-to-repressive-states-8711794.html
Based on their administration of the Palestine Mandate, the forcible barring of post-Holocaust survivors landing there, the British Establishment’s well known anti-Semitism, and the dominance of Arabists in Whitehall, can somebody explain to me why the Israelis should not have pulled the lion’s tail when they got the chance? We have, or used to have, a special relationship with Britain. Israel’s relationship with her is a lot less “special”.
sadly it seems whatever we give them eventually they transfer to the Chinese.
if you raise one little peep about it then you’re a Nazi.
how do you help Israel but avoid ending up fighting your own precious equipment..?
the UK is and has always been a good friend of Israel, yet one of the favorite stories in Israel is the one about the Scorpion and the Frog.
they might as well tell the story about themselves.
That whole Falklands war was a fiasco if I remember. I few Argentine dug in , fly overs on a couple paltry fishing islands with the whole bloody Brit fleet bombing that rock. As this is post Falklands seems to be a non issue, maybe Aergentina restocking for their next fishing rights war.
Two to Tango? Argentina Looking Everywhere for New Warplanes
Some noteworthy passages:
Britain’s defenses are also much more run down than they were in the 1980s, and their complete lack of a carrier force leaves ongoing protection of the islands’ surrounding economic zones to just 2-4 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, an offshore patrol vessel, and part of a regular navy ship rotation. Argentina’s window of opportunity will close when Britain’s advanced carrier force enters service in 2020, which has added urgency on both sides as Argentina tries to make a deal. Can Argentina find its partner?
[ SNIP ]
The good news for Britain, such as it is, is that Argentina still has to hang weapons on any fighters they buy. The FAA must either stick with their existing set of old equipment and forego most of the new fighter’s potential, or buy new weapons from the USA or Israel. Any new weapon sales would be a double escalation, making those sales less likely. The most dangerous Kfir-related sale, of Gabriel 3 anti-ship missiles, would make Britain an outright enemy of Israel’s. That won’t happen.
[ SNIP ]
Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters are the subject of talks with Brazil, but they use American F414 engines and British Martin-Baker ejection seats, to name only the most difficult substitutions. Indeed, about 30% of those planes are traceable to British firms – and Britain has stated that they will block such exports. The only sources free of American or European influence are Russia and China.
Argentine US-built LVTP-7 in Port Stanley, Falklands:
IMO, Israel looks to it’s own interests first and ignores the complaints of others.
Something we should emulate.