No plans for ties with Israel

Minister: Diplomats at KL forum were invited by UN

THE attendance of Israeli delegates at the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF9) in Kuala Lumpur last month does not mean that the Government intends to forge diplomatic ties with Israel, the House was told.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican clarified that the Israeli delegation led by diplomat David Roet was invited by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the organiser of WUF9, and not the Malaysian Government.

He said although Malaysia had objected to the invitation to the Israelis, it was bound under the Host Country Agreement signed by Malaysia and UN-Habitat to provide visas for all WUF9 attendees.

Reezal said the Israeli delegation was the only one not accorded diplomatic treatment, which was provided to all other diplomats who attended WUF9.

“When the Israeli delegation arrived, it was the only one that was not received by Wisma Putra and the only one not provided police security.

“We left all that to the UN because we did not welcome him (Roet).

“But because he was invited by the UN, the entry was allowed,” Reezal told Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh), who asked whether the Government intended to set up diplomatic relations with Israel.

He added that Malaysia had been known internationally to be strongly opposed to the illegal Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and advocated a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

He also said that no leader or official from Palestine had questioned or condemned Malaysia’s decision to allow the Israeli delegation into the country for WUF9.

“It has not affected ties between Malaysia and Palestine as they, along with the international community, know of Malaysia’s concern for the plight of the Palestinians,” he added.

It has not affected ties between Malaysia and Palestine. Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican