Malaysia's Mahathir says no rights to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital
Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country and has long supported a two-state solution in Palestine-Israel conflict
Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during the APEC CEO Summit 2018 at the Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. PHOTO: REUTERS
BANGKOK:
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday criticized Australia’s move to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying countries had “no rights” to do so.
Australia’s move follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May, which infuriated Palestinians and the wider Islamic world and upset Western allies.
“Jerusalem should remain as it is now and not the capital of Israel,” Mahathir told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Bangkok.
“Jerusalem has always been under Palestine, so why are they taking the initiative to divide Jerusalem not belonging to them, but to divide the Arabs and the Jews? They have no rights,” he added.
Malaysia is a majority-Muslim country and has long supported a two-state solution in the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel
The status of Jerusalem, home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, is one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians who want East Jerusalem recognized as the capital of a Palestinian state.
Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, including the eastern sector that it annexed in a move not recognized internationally, after the 1967 Middle East war.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reversed decades of Middle East policy by the country but said there are no immediate plans to move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday criticized Australia’s move to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying countries had “no rights” to do so.
Australia’s move follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May, which infuriated Palestinians and the wider Islamic world and upset Western allies.
“Jerusalem should remain as it is now and not the capital of Israel,” Mahathir told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Bangkok.
“Jerusalem has always been under Palestine, so why are they taking the initiative to divide Jerusalem not belonging to them, but to divide the Arabs and the Jews? They have no rights,” he added.
Malaysia is a majority-Muslim country and has long supported a two-state solution in the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel
The status of Jerusalem, home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, is one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians who want East Jerusalem recognized as the capital of a Palestinian state.
Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, including the eastern sector that it annexed in a move not recognized internationally, after the 1967 Middle East war.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reversed decades of Middle East policy by the country but said there are no immediate plans to move the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv.