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A28 world news
Diaranson 2 september 2020

In this handout photo provided by the Malacanang
Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he meets members of the Inter-
Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases at
the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines
on Monday Aug. 30, 2020.
Associated Press
Duterte orders customs Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, center left, elbow bumps with an Emirati

chief to shoot, kill official as he leaves Abu Dhabi, Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Associated Press

drug smugglers UAE's warm welcome to Israelis

By JIM GOMEZ reflects changing region
Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte publicly ordered the country’s top cus- By ARON HELLER the future.” Emirati government officials
toms official to shoot and kill drug smugglers in one of Associated Press The overnight visit, after the sharing insight and anecdotes
his most overt threats during a deadly four-year campaign ABU DHABI, United first-ever direct commercial about their country, govern-
that has been the centerpiece of his presidency. Duterte Arab Emirates (AP) — In passenger flight between Is- ment and personal lives. Ko-
has steadfastly denied authorizing extrajudicial killings less than 24 hours on the rael and the UAE, marked sher food was provided to the
but has repeatedly and openly threatened drug dealers ground, Israel’s first-of-its- the apex of an accelerating observant Jews, as well as a
with death. He and the national police, which has led en- kind delegation to the Unit- warming relationship that ritual hand-washing station.
forcement of his anti-drug campaign, have said most of ed Arab Emirates received had been mostly clandestine On Tuesday, representatives
the suspects killed by police during the campaign fought a royal welcome that would before the surprise Aug. 13 of the international media
back and threatened the lives of law enforcers. have been nearly unthinkable White House announcement visited the Al Dhafra air base,
Duterte gave the order to Bureau of Customs Commis- just a few weeks ago. establishing Israeli-Emirati where 5,000 American troops
sioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero in televised remarks from Dozens of Israeli officials and ties. Since then, telephone are stationed, to highlight
a Cabinet meeting on the coronavirus pandemic Monday their accompanying travel- lines were quickly connected the close Emirati-American
night. Guerrero, a retired army general and former mili- ing press corps got a diz- between the countries, the military alliance. The Israeli
tary chief of staff, was not present when Duterte spoke, zying taste of Abu Dhabi’s UAE’s ruler issued a decree journalists were taken to the
but the president said he met Guerrero and two other of- glamorous hotels, historic formally ending the coun- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
ficials earlier Monday at the presidential palace in Manila. landmarks and scorching cli- try’s decades-long boycott of and to a cultural center, with
“Drug is still flowing inside the country through cus- mate. The Emirati charm of- Israel and several Israeli com- a nod toward potential future
toms,” Duterte said, adding he has earlier approved Guer- fensive was on full display as panies signed business deals Israeli tourists. Cheery gov-
rero’s request for firearms. “I approved the purchase of the hosts literally pulled out with Emirati counterparts. ernment minders handed out
firearms and until now you haven’t killed even one? I told the red carpet at the airport as For the traveling journal- souvenirs and UAE-themed
him, ‘Shape up.’” “I told him straight, ‘Drugs is still flow- they sought to convey a new ists from Israel in tow, the trinkets.
ing in. I’d like you to kill there ... anyway, I’ll back you up spirit of friendship following visit offered a crash course in Only before departure, with
and you won’t get jailed. If it’s drugs, you shoot and kill. the historic U.S.-brokered Emirati culture and hospital- an Israeli flag flapping on the
That’s the arrangement,” Duterte said without elaborat- deal to normalize relations ity and a brief window into Abu Dhabi Airport tarmac
ing. More than 5,700 mostly poor drug suspects have been between the two countries. a nation that had long been below, did Al Musharakh, the
killed under Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, which has Emirati diplomats in their mysterious and inaccessible senior Foreign Ministry offi-
alarmed human rights groups and Western governments traditional white garb warmly to Israeli citizens. The hosts cial, express himself publicly.
and sparked an examination of alleged crimes against greeted their Israeli counter- arranged a private tour of the He said the UAE remained
humanity at the International Criminal Court. Duterte parts, some wearing Jewish sparkling Louvre Abu Dhabi committed to solidarity with
has vowed to continue the deadly crackdown in his re- skullcaps, as they hammered museum, with a guide high- the Palestinians yet felt com-
maining two years in power. Human Rights Watch called out the initial details of agree- lighting its Jewish-themed pelled to move ahead none-
Duterte’s order “savage.” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia di- ments on a range of issues, artifacts and official photog- theless with Israel.
rector of the U.S.-based rights group, said the U.N. Hu- including diplomacy, trade, raphers capturing images of While the Palestinians say
man Rights Council, which convenes this month, should science, technology and co- the Israeli visitors that were they feel betrayed, the UAE
establish an independent international investigation into operation in countering the later shared online. has touted the deal as a tool
the killings in the Philippines. “The continuing carnage coronavirus pandemic. A model was put on display of to force Israel into halting
also explains why the international community led by the “It is a message of coexis- the future Abrahamic Family its contentious plan to an-
European Union needs to act decisively on this ongoing tence. It is a message of to- House, a massive multi-faith nex parts of the West Bank
rights catastrophe in the Philippines and not be swayed getherness and tolerance in complex under construction sought by the Palestinians
by the government’s falsehoods about its record,” Rob- the region,” said Jamal Al set to open by 2022. It aims for a future state. It is also
ertson said. Human rights groups have said their inves- Musharakh, a senior Emirati to house a mosque, a church expected to help them ac-
tigations showed some suspects were killed mercilessly Foreign Ministry official, in and a synagogue, and is being quire advanced U.S. weap-
then police officers altered the scene and placed firearms a briefing with the visiting touted as the most expensive ons systems that have been
in the victims’ hands to make it appear that they fought reporters Tuesday. “There Jewish house of worship ever previously unattainable, such
back. Police have said the rights groups and critics should are too many conflicts in the built. as the F-35 fighter jet. Israel
file criminal complaints in court if they have evidence region and it’s high time to A lavish, multi-course dinner currently is the only country
against officers. q look forward to sustainable with an assortment of local in the region to fly the stealth
ways forward and hope for dishes followed, with senior warplane.q