Arakan News Agency
“The two sides in the conflict are conducting war crimes” in Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis, an Israeli diplomat told six American rabbis who voiced concern about reports of Israeli arms sales to the Southeast Asain country.
The rabbis were worried that Israeli businesses could be contributing to what the UN has termed ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, Myanmar’s Muslim minority, but Amir Sagie, Israel’s deputy consul general in New York, told the rabbis that to the best of Israel’s knowledge, the current crisis began after the Muslims attacked the Myanmar army.
Sagie charged that the current situation “started after Muslims attacked government positions in Myanmar” and that both sides in the conflict are “conducting war crimes.”
His position is considered consistent with that of the Foreign Ministry regarding reports in the media regarding Israel’s ties with Myanmar.
Sagie refused to give details about Israel’s arms trade with Myanmar, saying Israel “does not discuss publicly with our friends or our foes Israel’s military or defense relationships.” But he stressed that all weapons exports are “done with due diligence,” and exports take “into consideration human rights violations, including existing sanctions from the UN or international organizations.”
He also noted that the High Court of Justice had rejected a petition against the arms deals, but that verdict remains classified.
