Liberal US rabbis ask Israel to end alleged arms sales to Myanmar

Jerusalem denies any involvement in conflict that has sent hundreds of thousands fleeing, but says it is reexamining arms deals

By Tia Goldenberg 27 October 2017, 11:24 am Edit
Rohingya Muslim refugees carry food distributed by the Bangladeshi army at the Balukhali refugee camp near Gumdhum on September 26, 2017. (AFP/Dominique Faget)
Rohingya Muslim refugees carry food distributed by the Bangladeshi army at the Balukhali refugee camp near Gumdhum on September 26, 2017. (AFP/Dominique Faget)

AP — A group of American rabbis is demanding that Israel halt the reported sales of arms to Myanmar, where hundreds of thousands of people have fled violence by government security forces.

T’ruah, a New York-based group of rabbis supporting human rights, says Thursday that 300 rabbis and cantors signed a petition calling for an end to the alleged arms sales.

A statement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Israel “vehemently denies” reports of its “alleged involvement” in the Myanmar conflict.

Israel has not publicly commented on reports that it has sold weapons to Myanmar in the past.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, said Israel was conducting a “reassessment” of its arms sales to the country in light of the situation.

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