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Philippines’ Duterte eyes arms deals on Israel trip
MANILA, Aug 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
arrives Sunday for a visit to Israel and Jordan, pursuing a pivot away from
his nation’s long-time reliance on American military hardware and backing.
The four-day stay in Israel is the first by a Philippine leader in over 60
years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, yet their links go back to
Manila sheltering Jews during the Holocaust.
Duterte’s visit is generating a lot of attention, powered both by his
penchant for foul-mouthed statements — including likening himself to Hitler
— and his internationally condemned drug crackdown that has killed
thousands.
Duterte, accompanied by an entourage including soldiers and police, will
sit down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hold an event with some
of thousands of Filipino migrant workers in Israel.
He has pivoted the Philippines away from its former colonial master the
United States and toward warmer diplomatic and business ties with China and
Russia. The US and Canada have both had military hardware deals fall apart
with the Philippines due to concerns over Duterte’s drug war. But so far
sales with Israel have gone smoothly.
“(The visit) is for President Duterte to look for an alternative market
for… weapons for our armed forces as well as for the police,” Henelito
Sevilla, an international relations expert at University of the Philippines,
told AFP.
Israel is among the world’s top arms dealers, with nearly 60 percent of
its defence exports going to the Asia Pacific region, according to Israeli
defence ministry data.
– ‘No Jerusalem embassy’ –
The Philippines emerged as a significant new customer in 2017 for Israel,
with sales of radar and anti-tank equipment worth $21 million.
There could be far bigger deals on the way as Manila plans a multi-billion
dollar overhaul of its armed forces. Duterte has been dismissive of American
sales overtures, saying he does not need US fighter jets or submarines.
Manila says the trip is expected to yield signed agreements on defence as
well as labour, which is one of the Philippines’ top exports.
Some 10 million Filipinos work abroad and send home money that is a
lifeline to the economy. Manila is keen to ink agreements that protect the
workers’ conditions and pay, who are seen as national heroes at home.
Though the Philippines has a special bond with Israel for giving refuge to
some 1,300 Jews fleeing the Holocaust, Duterte drew global condemnation for
likening himself to Hitler in 2016.
“Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug
addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them,” he said. Most
mainstream historians say six million Jews died in the Holocaust.
Duterte later apologised to the Jewish community over his remarks, which
he said were aimed at critics who had likened him to the Nazi leader.
Just over a year later the Philippines abstained from a UN vote rebuking
the United States for moving its embassy to Jerusalem. Palestinians see the
eastern part of the disputed city as the capital of their future state.
The Philippines was reportedly among a handful of nations considering
following the Americans’ move, but Manila has issued repeated denials.
“This is actually not a topic of discussion,” Philippine Foreign
Undersecretary Ernesto Abella told journalists at a pre-visit briefing.
Duterte heads to Jordan on September 5, where he is expected to meet with
King Abdullah II.
BSS/AFP/RY/1701 hrs