NAM will discuss proposal to cut ties with Israel
Update from The Star News Desk
KUALA LUMPUR: The issue on boycotting Israel or severing relationship with the country will be raised at the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee in Palestine in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar.
However, he said a consensus decision should be made at the meeting on what should be done.
"We'll see how the issue is received and accepted by the committee as it has to be a collective decision and not one of a single country," he said.
Syed Hamid was commenting on Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Ahmad Al Farra's statement that all NAM members should suspend trade ties with Israel and possible political ties too.
"Everyone is entitled to give their opinion especially Palestine, which is the affected country. But at the end of the day, a consensus has to be achieved during discussions," he said.
Syed Hamid said it was important for countries within the region to look at the most effective way to solve the problem.
"If any country is going to boycott or sever ties with Israel, it must begin within the region itself.
"They can't continue to have political and diplomatic relationships with Israel if Israel continues to breach international law and disrespects the United Nations," he said.
He said only then could these regional countries influence others in the world to follow suit, Syed Hamid said Israel in Palestine was increasingly taking actions according to its whims and fancies because they assume the support they have from the United States was absolute.
"As a result, they have set aside the peace map and have used an approach that has deviated from the original decision," he said.
Syed Hamid was speaking to reporters after being in Radio Televisyen Malaysia's (RTM) Selamat Pagi Malaysia morning talk show at Angkasapuri.
Twelve countries from the committee, of which Malaysia is the chairman, are expected to attend the meeting.
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