‘It’s difficult for US to follow through on threat’
KUALA LUMPUR: The United States will face difficulty in carrying out its threat against countries which had voted against its move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, said an analyst.
Universiti Utara Malaysia foreign relations expert Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman said the threat would remain only as an intimidation if more countries came together to condemn the US over the Jerusalem issue.
“They (US) can’t threaten everyone. If everybody is against it, the US can’t do anything, provided that everyone opposes the move by the US. The US can’t impose sanctions on every country across the board because it has businesses overseas,” he told the New Sunday Times.
He was asked on Malaysia’s stance on the issue despite the US’ threats to cut aid to countries that had voted at the United Nations against the declaration to make Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
On Dec 6, US President Donald Trump declared that Jerusalem would be Israel’s capital and that the US embassy would be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Trump’s announcement was met with objections by Muslim nations, including Malaysia, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the recent extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had said that the government condemned and rejected the US’ decision.
He said if Muslim countries managed to show solidarity on the matter, they would be able to put pressure on the US from pursuing its decision.
“A concerted effort and united voice can bring significant influence and pressure onto the US government. Whether they will change their stance, that’s a different matter. For now, we have to mobilise an action.”
Fuad suggested the international community raise the issue in a similar approach previously exercised against the apartheid system in South Africa, which was ended through negotiations between 1990 and 1993.
“We can apply the interdependence theory on this issue. Malaysia is not the only country depending on them (the US). They depend on us too. It’s a matter of how we put our case forward.
“The international community should escalate the issue and put what they have done before, like how they were against the apartheid system. What Israel is doing now (to the Palestinians) is similar to the apartheid system.”
On Friday, Najib led a rally of 10,000 people at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya where leaders from all political alliances and non-governmental organisations, regardless of religion and backgrounds, gathered to oppose the US’ move.
Najib had sent a strong message, vowing that he would not back down on efforts to defend Palestine even if “my body is cut into pieces, even if only a piece of flesh is left, I will continue to defend this principle”.