Philippine President arrives in Israel, eyes arms purchases

President Rodrigo Duterte landed at Ben Gurion International Airport Sunday evening, the first Philippine president to visit Israel. During his three-day stay, he will meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the president. The visiting president heads a delegation of 400 top army and police officials, in search of advanced weaponry for the planned overhaul of his armed forces, as well as expanded bilateral trade ties. Manila’s arms deals with the US and Canada have run up against condemnation of Duerte’s high-casualty drug war. During his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center, on Tuesday, the story of how the Philippines rescued hundreds of Jews from the Holocaust will be recalled. Duerte will also meet some of the tens of thousands of Filipino workers employed in Israel.