KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 19, 2007 (WAFA) Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Israel should be pressured by powerful countries of the world who have influence on it to accept the new Palestinian coalition government.

"Israel should no longer come up with the excuse that (the new unity government) has not met certain conditions," he told reporters at the opening of the Lower House session on Monday.

Syed Hamid said the unity government led by President Mahmoud Abbas had acknowledged the need for peace and the peace process, and as such, Israel should not impose any conditions.

"I am hopeful that the big powers like the United States and the European Union will move to ask Israel to accept the unity government as a positive development towards achieving peace in West Asia," he said. Malaysia, he said, welcomed the installation of the new Palestinian government as it could benefit the Palestinian people.

"It's a positive development. We hope that sanctions against the Palestinian authorities will be lifted to enable them to rebuild their country with the support of their people," he added.

H.M (21:35P) (19:35GMT)