Sale of Dutch air defence system parts to Israel "will go through"

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The Dutch government will go ahead with the sale of outdated HAWK-parts to Israel, Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen told parliament Friday.

The HAWK is a ground-based air defence system comparable with the US Patriot system, which can take down missiles and fighter aircraft. Israel says it wants the parts to maintain its air defence system.

Earlier this week all leftist parties Greens (GL), the Socialists Party (SP) and Labour said they opposed the deal. The Greens and SP are in the opposition, while Labour is a government coalition party.

The leftist parties argued the Netherlands violated its earlier position not to sell any arms to parties in conflict areas, including Israel.

But Verhagen said selling parts of an air defence system was not the same as selling arms. He stressed the HAWK cannot be used in the conflict with the Palestinians, nor be used against the Palestinian population.

Verhagen said a licence for the sale would be provided once the contract has been signed in November, and after the had permitted the sale of the originally American equipment.

Deputy Defence Minister Cees van der Knaap had informed parliament about the planned sale on Monday. dpa rl sc