‘No special treatment for Israelis attending WUF9’
KUALA LUMPUR: No special treatment was accorded to Israeli delegates who were in Malaysia to attend the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF9) last month.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said their participation in the forum was upon an invitation by the United Nations (UN) and they were the only delegates not greeted by Malaysian officials.
Reezal said the government had requested that UN exclude Israeli delegates from attending WUF9, but Malaysia had to fulfil its commitment under Article 3 of the Host Country Agreement signed with UN-Habitat in conjunction with hosting the forum.
Malaysia and Israel do not have diplomatic ties.
“No security was provided by the police for them.
“We leave the matter to the UN. The Israelis are only allowed to be here as they were invited by the former,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to a question by opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) on whether Malaysia had made efforts to deny the entry of Israeli delegates into the country.
Reezal said Malaysia remained firm against Israel’s illegal occupation in Palestine, as seen in the Resolution 2334 through the UN Security Council.
“It is inaccurate to measure the country’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian struggle based on the presence of Israeli delegates in Malaysia.
“For example, Israel has an embassy in Ankara, Turkey. But that does not mean (Turkey President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan is not against Israel’s illegal occupation in Palestine.
“In the case of Malaysia, we need to look at benefits of hosting WUF9 and its impact on the country, instead of focusing on the Israelis’ presence and accusing Malaysia of mooting diplomatic ties with Israel.”