Jerusalem (AP) – the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte received a warm welcome in Israel on his arrival on Sunday for a four-day visit. Before starting from Philippines, Duterte, 73, said that “provides for greater cooperation in a wide range of mutually important areas: Defense and security, policing, economic development, trade, investment and labour”. One of the priorities on the agenda are the sales of Israeli arms to his Government, according to Israeli media. Philippine authorities have said that the country has recently acquired weapons manufactured in Israel, such as spearguns Galil assault and handguns for its police force of 120,000 items, which leads the Duterte fight against illegal drugs and others offences.
Duterte is accused of committing violations of human rights in its combat on drugs in your country and on the other hand, has made controversial statements about the Holocaust.
The President will start his four-day visit attending an event of the Filipino community in Israel. Approximately 28,000 filipinos living in that country in the Middle East, most nurses.
Duterte, who has generated controversy for his rude attacks U.S. President Barack Obama and even God, will be received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The Philippine President sparked outrage in 2016 when it compared its anti-narcotics campaign with the nazi genocide, and said that “with taste it masacraría” three million addicts. He subsequently apologized.
On Monday visited Yad Vashem of the history of the Holocaust Museum and a memorial to the rescue of Jews carried out by the Philippines during the second world war.
In contrast to the warm official reception, Israeli human rights activists plan to protest the visit, and they encouraged the Chairman Reuven Rivlin to not meet with Duterte due to allegations of human rights violations in the Filipinas.En this note: Rodrigo Duterte Philippines Israel Jerusalem
