The Israeli High Court of Justice on Monday rejected a petition to ban arms sales to Azerbaijan as lacking evidence to justify a hearing on whether they have been used for war crimes against Armenia, The Jerusalem Post reports.

The ruling does not preclude a later petition presenting more comprehensive evidence.

Human-rights lawyer Itay Mack said he was calling on Israel to cease arms sales to Azerbaijan as a moral matter, but he lacked sufficient evidence to file a petition. It was filed by activist Elie Joseph, who has been on hunger strike over the issue.

Joseph presented news reports that 60% of Azerbaijan arms come from Israel and evidence of a potential air lift of weapons to Azerbaijan days before its current conflict with Armenia erupted.

He also presented news reports and a report by Amnesty International with evidence that Azerbaijan is using Israeli drones to kill Armenians.

However, almost none of what Joseph presented proves that Israeli weapons have been used against Armenians for war crimes, judge Yosef Elron said. At most, it proves that Israeli weapons have been sold to Azerbaijan, which might mean being held in storage or in reserve for defensive purposes only, he said.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Source Panorama.am