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Ari Ben Menashe, an Iranian born, former Israeli intelligence official, is director of the Montreal-based lobbying firm Dickens & Madson. He has signed a $2 million contract with the military in Myanmar to argue their case that what happened on 1 February was not a coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. So what exactly was it?

CLARIFICATION: The Israeli government says Mr Ben Menashe does not represent Israel, Israel does not support the Myanmar regime or lobby for it, and Israel condemns the coup and calls for the immediate restoration of democracy.

(Photo: Ari Ben Menashe in his office in Montreal. Credit: Corbis/Getty Images)