CAIRO (IANS) — Human rights groups criticized Israel for the continued sale of weaponry to the Myanmar junta amid violence against Rohingya Muslims, local media reported on Saturday.
More than 100 tanks as well as boats and light weapons have been sold to the Myanmar government by Israeli arms companies, investigations by several human rights watchdogs have found, according to MENA news agency.
One company, TAR Ideal Concepts, has also trained Myanmar special forces in northern Rakhine state, where much of the violence is taking place, posting pictures on their website of its staff teaching combat tactics and how to handle weapons.
There is a US and EU embargo on selling arms to Myanmar, which was under military rule.
Israel’s High Court will decide on whether to ban arms sales to the country later this month after a petition by Israeli acitivists.
The Israeli Defence Ministry defended arms sales, saying the courts had no jurisdiction over a “diplomatic” issue, the report said.
