Malaysia Not Normalising Ties With Israel Saifuddin

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Malaysia will not normalise ties with Israel, a prospect raised by an Israeli cabinet minister recently.
Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said this was because Malaysia remains firm in its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and their struggle against the continued Israeli occupation and oppression.
For many decades already, the Palestinian people have been suffering discriminatory policies, denial of basic human rights, imposition of harsh living conditions, as well as confiscation of their land and property.
"These and other inhumane acts committed by Israel, the occupying power, against the Palestinians are tantamount to the crime of apartheid and are clearly inconsistent with the pursuit of peace and peaceful co-existence in the region," said Saifuddin.
He said Malaysia will actively pursue efforts to realise the Palestinian aspiration for freedom and independence.
"Malaysia will also continue to provide political and moral support, as well as humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people bilaterally and through international organisations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as facilitating the works of Malaysian civil society organisations," he said.
Abraham Accords
Saifuddin was referring to a report by Abu Dhabi-based Emer News citing Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation and the only Arab minister in the Israeli government Issawi Frej.
Issawi said Oman, Qatar, Tunisia and Malaysia may soon be party to the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords are a series of treaties normalising diplomatic relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.
Issawi is a member of the Meretz Party - part of the hodgepodge parties which ousted Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister in June.
The Meretz Party is a secular left-wing party supportive of a two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Issawi was among the Meretz Party delegation which held two meetings with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently.
According to Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, the goal of the visit was to keep the two-state solution "alive". - Mkini

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