Suspend arms imports from Israel, CPM tells government

New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) Terming the Israeli military offensive in Lebanon as ''totally disproportionate'', the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today urged the government to demand international sanctions on Israel.

The government should not only deplore the attack but demand international sanctions be applied on Israel for its ''brazen violation'' of international law, said a statement from the Polit Bureau of the CPI (M).

''As a first step, India should suspend buying arms from Israel,'' the party said.

India buys two billion dollars of military equipment annually from Israel and the country is on the list of possible sellers of the multi-billion dollar missile defence systems New Delhi is planning to acquire.

The full-scale attack by air, sea and land on Lebanon by Israel is an ''undeclared war'' in which more than 55 civilians have been killed, the CPI (M) said.

Israel launched the offensive after two of its soldiers were abducted by the Hizbollah in Lebanon.

''The retaliation has been totally disproportionate and reveals Israel's well known penchant for aggression on its neighouring countries,'' the party Polit Bureau said.

Coming in the wake of the ''sustained attacks'' on the Gaza strip, Israel poses a ''serious threat'' to peace and stability in the region, it added.

UNI FZ PA DS1405