British arms companies are supplying key parts for Israel's Apache combat helicopters, F15 and F16 fighter jets deployed in southern Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.
This is despite British government guidelines banning the sale of weapons likely to be used "aggressively against another country" or fuel regional tensions.
The disclosure follows anger among British MPs this week after it emerged that the government allowed US aircraft carrying bombs and missiles to Israel to refuel at Prestwick airport in Scotland.
British arms suppliers, including Smiths Industries and AgustaWestland, are among eight companies manufacturing components for Apaches ranging from power-management systems and parts for the rotor to helmet-mounted displays for the gunship operators.
MPE, a Liverpool-based manufacturer, sells electro-magnetic filters used in bomb racks put on all F15 fighter jets and the model of F16s used by Israel. Boeing, the sole supplier of Apaches, confirmed that the British-made components are included on all Apaches sent to Israel and a number of other countries.
"There are over 6,000 parts in the Apache manufactured literally worldwide," said John Schibler, director of Apache engineering at Boeing.
"The UK is one of the largest contributors and these are only the major components made by British companies."
The disclosures highlight weaknesses in British arms export controls days after the Foreign Office described the controls as "one of the most rigorous and transparent regimes in the world".
British arms controls also forbid exports "to countries where serious violations of human rights have been established" or "if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression".
A Commons committee on arms export controls is expected to issue a strong statement on exports to Israel late next week despite pressure from some members to tone it down.
"The government's policy on exports to Israel is incoherent," committee chairman Roger Berry said. "They are adamant that they would not license exports - weapons, equipment or components - if they could end up being deployed aggressively in the Occupied Territories. But . . . there are clearly lots of British components in arms being used by the Israeli government in the Occupied Territories."
Israel was listed as a country of concern in last year's annual Foreign Office report on human rights and the government has said it would refuse arms export licences for any equipment that could be used aggressively by Israel. However F16s, F15s and Apaches have been used extensively by Israel in the recent attacks across Lebanon and Gaza, which have resulted in more than 500 civilian casualties to date.
Last week Kim Howells, a Foreign Office minister, said the British embassy in Tel Aviv "has confirmed reports that Israel is using F16s in its incursions into Gaza and Lebanon".
Apaches are alleged by human rights groups to have been used by Israel for extra-judicial assassinations, missile strikes in heavily populated civilian areas and the shelling of schools, medical facilities, refugee camps and civil society buildings. - (Guardian service)
President Bush gave a "one line" apology to Mr Blair during their White House talks for America's use of Glasgow's Prestwick Airport to ferry laser-guided bombs to Israel without following proper procedure.
Mr Blair's official spokesman told reporters flying with him to California: "President Bush did apologise for the fact that proper procedures were not followed, but that was all. It was just a one line. As part of the introduction, the President said sorry there was a problem.
"It was a gracious thing to do."- (Reuters)