An Israeli company has invited former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for a private visit to Israel in a bid to sell military vehicles to Chile’s defense forces.
Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, is currently commander of the army.
The Israeli daily Ha’aretz said that the Foreign Ministry expressed reservations about hosting Pinochet for an official visit.
Pinochet was invited to Israel by the firm Machshirei Tnua in the hope of renewing the sale of military vehicles produced by a subsidiary company.
A spokesman for the firm said the company would cancel its invitation if it is opposed by the ministry.
The paper reported that Chile’s previous ambassador to Israel, a former exile from Pinochet’s regime, had threatened to quit if Pinochet visited Israel.
Labor Knesset member Yossi Beilin, who served as deputy foreign minister under the Labor government, convinced the former government to block a visit by Pinochet.
A Chilean human rights group has estimated that more than 3,100 people died as a result of human rights violations during Pinochet’s rule.
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