RAMALLAH, Saturday, January 19, 2019 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates commended on Saturday Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and its Foreign Minister for standing up for Palestinian rights.
The Foreign Ministry issued the following statement:
In relation to the statement released by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the decision of Malaysia not to allow Israeli passport holders from entering their country for a sports‘ competition.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates commend the statement delivered by the Malaysian Prime Minister HE Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in relation to the Israeli violations and actions on the Palestinian land.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates also commend the statement released by the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs which represents the global reaction and position to the crimes of the Israeli occupation.
Israel has been systematically denying the entry of millions of people only because of their origin. This does not only include Arabs and Muslims in general, but Palestinian Christians and Muslims only because they are not Jews, in addition to the ongoing policies and crimes of apartheid and colonization, hence Israel having no right to talk about any kind of morality, or discrimination.
Before making any comments about Malaysia- the Israeli Government should look into the ongoing violations being committed against Palestinian sports, including the violations of the FIFA Statutes as well as the reiterated military raids against the Palestinian Olympic Committee, the Football Association and stadiums, as well as the detention of Palestinian players, and the movement restrictions imposed upon Palestinian sportspeople.
While Israel denies Palestinians of their right to practice sports, they continue to cynically make use of sports in order to normalize its illegal occupation and colonization by conducting international matches in Jerusalem and through their teams located in illegal colonial settlements.
Israel never responded to the Arab Peace Initiative which was presented by all members of the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and can result in full normalization of diplomatic relations between all Arab and Muslim states and Israel. This normalization of relations can only take place after Israel respects its obligations under UN Resolutions, including a full withdrawal from the occupied State of Palestine, and the occupied Lebanese and Syrian territories, as well as achieving a just and agreed upon resolution to the Palestinian refugee issue based on UNGA Resolution 194.
The government of Israel, with the support of the current American Administration has been trying to undermine the Arab Peace Initiative in order to achieve normalization while consolidating its systematic denial of the internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people. This position is utterly rejected by most countries around the world that support the end of the Israeli occupation, including of East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine.
We look forward for the day that our Malaysian brothers and sisters, as well as hundreds of millions of Arabs, Christians and Muslims, will be able to freely visit Palestine.
M.K.
