MK protests weapon sales to Myanmar government massacring Rohingya
In 2015, the head of Myanmar’s army visited Israel, and the military bought a Dvora-class fast patrol boat.
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 01:18MK MASOUD GNAIM (center) participates in a protest against the killing of his Rohingya Muslim ‘brothers’ in Myanmar, outside the country’s embassy in Tel Aviv, September 11, 2017.(photo credit: UNITED ARAB LIST)
Islamic Movement-affiliated MK Masoud Gnaim led a protest against the killing of his Rohingya Muslim “brothers” in Myanmar, outside the country’s embassy in Tel Aviv Monday.Gnaim, who is in the United Arab List, a party within the Joint List bloc in the Knesset, referred to Israel selling weapons to Myanmar’s government. Myanmar has responded to attacks by a Rohingya militia in a way that the head of the UN Human Rights Council, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein characterized as “clearly disproportionate” and a “textbook example” of ethnic cleansing.“We will not be silent about the Israeli government supporting the Myanmar government with weapons,” Gnaim said. “These weapons are killing the Rohingya, the Muslims in the Rakhine [state], our brothers.”Gnaim added that “a state that claims to have a democracy, freedom and human rights cannot allow its weapons to go to any such place.“Every Israeli, Arab or Jew, should not be silent about such an act. The Rohingya are people, too. They deserve solidarity. This is what we demand,” he stated.The Defense Ministry has said it does not comment on weapons exports.In 2015, the head of Myanmar’s army visited Israel, and the military bought a Dvora-class fast patrol boat. At the time, the EU had embargoed weapons sales to Myanmar.In December 2016, attorney Eitay Mack petitioned the Supreme Court to stop Israel from selling weapons to Myanmar. A hearing is set for September 25.
