PETALING JAYA: The government has expressed regret and disappointment that the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council, has been unable to stop the Israel regime’s violence against the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the UN Security Council has yet to issue any statement on the current situation in Palestine due to opposition from the United States.“Nevertheless, Malaysia will continue to work to call on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to act immediately to force Israel to stop its attacks on the Palestinian people, ” he said yesterday during a special televised address on the Palestine-Israel conflict.

He reiterated the Malaysian government’s stand that was always consistent in its strong support of Palestine and the struggle of its people, whether in terms of politics, economics, or morals.

“The best solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can only be reached through negotiations to ensure lasting regional peace, security and stability, ” he said.

He said that Malaysia is all for a fair and equitable settlement through the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem the capital of Palestine as the only viable solution to the conflict.

“Malaysia will continue to support all efforts for a just and lasting solution, in particular, through negotiations involving all the relevant parties based on international laws and the relevant UN resolutions, ” he said.

Muhyiddin added that he had spoken with Indonesian President Joko Widodo regarding the current situation in Palestine, where both of them agreed that the regime’s actions should cease immediately.

“We were of similar views that the international community, especially the UN Security Council, should act swiftly to cease all forms of violence committed by Israel, and save the lives of Palestinians.”

Malaysia, together with Indonesia and Brunei, will issue a joint statement to strongly condemn Israel’s oppressive attacks, he said.

He also said that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold a virtual emergency meeting at the foreign ministers’ level to discuss the latest developments today.

Malaysia, he said, would continue to make bilateral contributions towards Palestine in addition to making contributions to other international bodies.

Muhyiddin said that through the Humanitarian Trust Fund for People of Palestine supervised by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malaysia has contributed US$10,000 (RM41,250) to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2020, with the contribution channelled to the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.

He said that in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has provided one million face masks, 500 face shields and 500,000 rubber gloves to Palestinians, with the products sent via a specially chartered plane to Amman, Jordan in May last year.

He also said that last year, Malaysia contributed US$120,000 (RM495,000) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East (UNRWA) for its operations and programmes for the year.

“Malaysia has been consistently providing strong support and contributions to UNRWA since 1978. Since 2015, Malaysia has contributed US$600,000 to UNRWA, ” he added.

He also thanked NGOs in Malaysia and Malaysians on the whole who have always been supportive of the Palestinian people.

“I hope you will continue making contributions to the Palestinians through legitimate charitable funds created for this purpose. All your efforts and contributions are very meaningful for them.

“Let us all pray for the well-being of Palestinians who are now being victimised and oppressed by the Zionist regime, ” he said.

“May the Palestinians be protected from cruelty of this tyrannical regime and Israel’s occupation of Palestine land will soon end.”

To date, more than 130 Palestinians have been reportedly killed with hundreds more injured as a result of the violence.

The Al-Aqsa mosque has been attacked since May 7 while Gaza has been bombarded by military airstrikes since May 10.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/16/muhyiddin-un-must-act-now