Date :1 Jul 2010
MEP Bairbre de Brún called on the European Commission on Tuesday to stop funding Israeli companies which "develop military technology," until Israel complies with international human rights standards.

De Brún asked the EC to reveal the extent of funding it provides to companies whose research has military applications, which she said “ends up helping the Israeli war machine.”

The MEP referred specifically to Israel Aerospace Industries, which manufactures the Heron unmanned drone, used extensively in Israel’s assault on Gaza which began December 2008.

The EU Parliament endorsed a fact-finding report headed by South African jurist Richard Goldstone, which found evidence of war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas during Operation Cast Lead