Philippines' Duterte eyes arms deals on Israel trip

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte landed in Israel on Sunday as part of a regional tour including Jordan, as he pursues a pivot away from his nation's long-time reliance on American military hardware and support.

The four-day visit to Israel will be the first by a Philippine leader in more than 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, even though their links go back to Manila's sheltering of Jews during the Holocaust.

Duterte, accompanied by an entourage including soldiers and police, was welcomed at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv by Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara. He then headed to Jerusalem, where he will hold an event with some of the thousands of Filipino migrant workers in Israel.

Members of the Filipino community in Jerusalem wear shirts with a picture of their President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and a welcoming message as they await his arrival at the start of an official visit to Israel, September 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

On Monday, Duterte will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sign agreements before heading to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. He will meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday and on Wednesday, he will inaugurate a memorial near Tel Aviv commemorating the Philippines' acceptance of 1,300 Jews fleeing the Holocaust.

"We assign great importance to this visit, which symbolizes the strong, warm ties between our two peoples," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement.

'Alternative market'

Duterte has pivoted the Philippines away from its former colonial master the United States and towards warmer diplomatic and business ties with China and Russia. The US and Canada have both seen military hardware deals fall apart with the Philippines due to concerns over Duterte's drug war. But so far deals with Israel have gone smoothly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. /VCG Photo

"(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 the University of the Philippines, told AFP.

Israel is among the world's top arms dealers, with nearly 60 percent of its defense exports going to the Asia-Pacific region, according to Israeli defense ministry data. The Philippines emerged as a significant new customer in 2017, with sales of radar and anti-tank equipment worth 21 million US dollars.

Manila says the trip is expected to yield agreements on defense as well as labor, which is one of the Philippines' top exports. Some 10 million Filipinos work abroad and send home money that is a lifeline for the economy. Manila is keen to sign agreements on protections for the workers.

Israel's EL/M-2084 Multi-Mission Radar. /VCG Photo

Two-state solution

In December 2017, Philippines abstained in a United Nations vote rebuking the United States for its deeply controversial recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Palestinians see the eastern part of the disputed city as the capital of their future state.

Duterte on Sunday expressed support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We shall be guided by our constitution and laws as well as our international commitments in support of efforts and initiatives including the two-state solution," he told reporters.

A woman takes a photo of a worshiper following morning prayers marking the first day of Eid al-Adha celebrations, on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, August 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Netanyahu says he wants the Palestinians to govern themselves, but has recently declined to specify whether that would mean an independent Palestinian state or some diluted form of autonomy as advocated by many right-wing Israelis.

Duterte heads to Jordan on September 5, where he is expected to meet King Abdullah II.

(Cover: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte waves upon his arrival in Jerusalem at the start of an official visit to Israel, September 2, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): AFP