ID :
230508
Wed, 02/29/2012 - 14:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/230508
The shortlink copeid
Govt Releases Dr Mahathir's Letters To Israeli PMs
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29 (Bernama)-- The Government today made public three
letters sent by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to prime ministers of
Israel which clearly show Malaysia's firm stand against Israel's illegal
actions and atrocities against the Palestinians.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said the three letters were being made public
in order to dispel allegations made by certain parties that the Malaysian
Government has not been consistent on its stance with regard to Palestine and
the struggle of the Palestinian people.
In a statement here Wednesday, he said the three letters were;
a) Letter from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime
Minister dated 21 December 1993.
b) Letter from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime
Minister dated 14 March 1997.
c) Letter from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Ehud Barak, Israeli Prime Minister
dated 8 June 1999.
During Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to Melaka state on Feb 24, 2012
and Sekinchan, Selangor state on Feb 26, 2012, the Prime Minister had stated
that the Government of Malaysia was ready to publish several letters from Dr
Mahathir Mohamad to prime ministers of Israel.
"I wish to state that as a matter of policy, Malaysia has consistently over
the years publicly supported the struggle of the Palestinian people for a just
and lasting comprehensive solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict and for the
establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
"The contents of these letters reflect Malaysia’s strong and principled
stance against Israel’s illegal actions and atrocities that had undermined the
peace process by urging Israel to fulfil its obligations by implementing and
respecting all agreements signed between the Palestine and Israel," said Anifah.
He said this included the Oslo Accords signed by the late Yasser Arafat on
behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Shimon Peres of Israel
on Sept 13, 1993 on the Principles and Mutual Recognition between Israel and
the PLO.
Anifah said as the prime minister then, Dr Mahathir had never expressed
support for Israel, including its security in any of these letters, nor did they
reflect implicitly or explicitly that Malaysia had diplomatic relations with
Israel.
"Malaysia’s readiness to consider establishing relations with Israel is also
contingent upon Israel’s implementation of all the requirements as stated in the
relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, including Palestine’s
submission to become a full member of the UN on the basis of the 4 June 1967
borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (East Jerusalem) as its capital. This has been
the Malaysian Government’s position all these years," he said.
Anifah said the letters also reflected the role of former Prime Minister
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Malaysia, as a responsible and respected leader of the
international community in trying to facilitate in finding a just and lasting
solution to the conflict and to restore the dignity of the long suffering
Palestinian people.
-- BERNAMA