51 Lawmakers Urge Thatcher Not to Sell Arms to Saudi Arabia

Fifty-one Democratic and Republican members of the House have written British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher asking her not to sell Tornado fighters and Hawk trainers to Saudi Arabia because it would “undermine the already slim chances of success for the fragile peace process” in the Middle East.

The letter initiated by Reps. Tom Lantos (D. Cal.) and John Porter (R. III.), also expressed the “concern” of the Congressmen that “the government of Great Britain has maintained an embargo, in effect, on the sale of arms to Israel for well over a decade now, but you are willing to sell massive quantities of sophisticated offensive weapons to Isral’s enemies.”

The Congressmen noted that the British sale to the Saudis is “most unfortunate” because “it rewards Saudi Arabia before it has taken positive steps to contribute to the peace process and it provides no incentive for that government to participate in lessening tensions in the region.”

The letter warns Thatcher that the sale of the British arms “will bring about a new escalation of the regional arms race” since the Saudis plan to base the planes only 100 miles from Israel and 800 miles from the oil fields the weapons are supposed to protect.

“Without a resolution of outstanding issues between Israel on one hand and Saudi Arabia and Jordan on the other, your government’s arms sale will increase the level of violence,” the Congressmen warned Thatcher.

In the letter written last week, the Congressmen also urged British officials not to go ahead with a planned meeting with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization since it would send “the wrong signal to moderate Arab nations. ” The British cancelled the meeting yesterday after the two PLO representatives refused to sign a statement renouncing terrorism and violence and recognizing Israel’s right to exist.