Israeli prosecutor defends arms export to South Sudan
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August 12, 2017 (TEL AVIV) – The Israeli government has defended sale
of arms to South Sudan, arguing that there was no evidence showing
that either an individual or entity committed a criminal offence by
exporting weapons to the war-torn East African country.
JPEG - 74.6 kb
Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South
Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)
The assertion, Haaretz daily reported, follows a petition seeking a
criminal investigation into Israeli arms sales to South Sudan and the
suspicion that it constituted war crime and crime against humanity.
The petition, filed by 54 Israelis, concerns the sale of Israeli-made
Galil ACE rifles sold to a militia associated with the South Sudanese
government. The petitioners, through their lawyer Eitay Mack,
reportedly claimed Israeli officials who dealt with the issue should
have understood that there were risks associated with the rifles’
export.
In 2015, a United Nations Security Council report about the conflict
in South Sudan said photographs showed South Sudanese officers and
soldiers using the Ace, an advanced version of the Galil assault
rifle.
The rifle, the report said, were produced by Israel weapon industries.
The civil war in South Sudan has gone on for nearly four years amid
allegations of human rights violations, including the use of child
soldiers. According to the UN report, all branches of South Sudan’s
security forces are using the Ace, in its battle against local rebels.
Both sides involve in the conflict have been accused of human rights
violations, in the two-year war, in documented claims of ethnic
cleansing, systemic rape, recruitment of child soldiers and more.
In response, however, the state reportedly requested that the petition
regarding the sale of weapons to South Sudan be dismissed.
“No evidence has been found of any defect in the judgment of the
relevant parties,” Rachel Matar, head of the criminal division in the
state prosecutor’s office wrote in a letter the Haaretz daily
obtained.
“The acts of any Israeli party whatsoever constitute suspicion of the
commission of a criminal offense,” further added the letter.
The Isareli defence minister, Matar said, provided information to the
state prosecutor’s office on exports to South Sudan, and that military
exports are to be judged on “considerations of the protection of human
rights and the political situation in the relevant region.”
Data on arms sales to specific countries are kept secret, but overall
sales to Africa reportedly increased dramatically in the years
following South Sudan’s formation.
In 2009, Israel reportedly sold just $71 million worth of weapons to
the continent. In 2013, that number more than tripled to $223 million,
and it reached $318 million in 2014.
South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011. Two year
later, a civil war broke out after President Salva Kiir accused his
former deputy, Riek Machar and ten others of planning a coup. The
conflict has since killed tens of thousands of people and displaced
over two million civilians into neighbouring countries.
(ST)
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13 August 05:32, by Ayuiu Makuac Lam
Government of South Sudan didn’t made any requests of buying arms
from Israel government.
repondre message
13 August 12:04, by Mi diit
This alone shows good evidence;
In 2009, Israel reportedly sold just $71 million worth of
weapons to the continent. In 2013, that number more than tripled to
$223 million, and it reached $318 million in 2014.
repondre message
13 August 12:55, by South South
Israel has all rights to sell out its weapons to other
countries in the world if the relationship is there. South Sudan is
the best friend of Israel, so what is new rebels? Lick your own wounds
if things are hot now.
repondre message
13 August 07:15, by Lenin Bull
Sudantribune stop belittling South Sudan by calling legitimate
arms of South Sudan government that were issued with Galil automatic
rifles as militia. You have forgotten that South Sudan is a sovereign
state with full right to buy weapons including Atomic/Hydrogen Bombs
for the defense of its independence, sovereignty, and freedom like any
country in the world.
repondre message
13 August 09:29, by Adok son
The editorial boards of Sudan Tribune must make sure that the
cause of the South Sudanese civil war was not because of an accuse
from Salva Kiir to r Riek Machar about a coup attempts but instead,
Salva Kiir went and disarmed the Nuer soldiers in the barrack of Tiger
and ended with refusal of his order.
So, war of South Sudan was because of disarmament applied by Salva
Kiir agreed Nuer Soldiers.
repondre message
13 August 09:41, by Adok son
>>>I meant "against Nuer soldiers" ignore the above errors.
Again, Israeli government forgot the history of the Jews when they
were humiliated by so many countries in the world because of their
bravery and nationalism, refer that to what is now happening on Nuer
People in South Sudan where all people even the human rights
activities dodged the truth to told.
Salva Kiir’s government couldn’t be>>>>
repondre message
13 August 09:50, by Adok son
>>supported by those worse types of weapons because he(Kiir)
doesn’t know the value of human being but only hatred and revenge
between Dinka and Nuer since long time ago has stacked in his(Kiir)
mind while he is a president. If possible, O my entire world, don’t
support Salva Kiir’s government,unless you means it to perish south
Sudanese people by giving him those weapons to make his ongoing mass
repondre message
13 August 10:02, by Adok son
>>>killing on innocent civilian of South Sudan.
Salva Kiir is a leader of only Dinka people,even the current
government which is existing now is a tribal organization whereas its
system done by JCE known as Jieng(Dinka) Council of Elders.Salva is a
weaker but its stand on the same position is because he is helped by
the supper countries especially the country John Kerry, Susan Rice and
BarrackObam
repondre message
13 August 10:13, by Adok son
Come from.
Israel would not Support Salva Kiir because he is a friend to the
Israeli’s enemies. What I knew was only that the world could not be
deceived with wrong information by a primitive,incompetent person
known as Salva Kiir but it unfortunately happened in South Sudan
whereby all the western countries and East Africa region closed their
eyes on the rights of Riek Machar and sided with Kiir.
repondre message
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