August 5, 2012
Israel bars Malaysian Foreign Minister and other NAM Ministers from Ramallah Meet
by Agence France Presse
Israel on Sunday refused to allow the Foreign Ministers of several Non-Aligned Movement countries from entering the West Bank for a top-level meeting, sources on both sides said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Palestinian official said Israel was refusing to allow entry to the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cuba, none of which have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
A senior Israeli official confirmed the move, saying the ban related to five countries. “A decision has been taken to bar the diplomatic representatives of several countries which do not recognise Israel from crossing the Israeli borders,” he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.The countries in question are Cuba, Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh,” he said.
Algeria had earlier informed the Palestinian Authority it would not be sending a delegation to Sunday’s meeting of Non-Aligned Movement ministers in Ramallah in order to avoid friction at the Israeli-controlled frontier.
Foreign Ministers from 13 nations belonging to NAM’s Palestine Committee
were to meet in Ramallah on Sunday evening to back Palestinian plans to seek upgraded membership at the United Nations when the General Assembly meets next month.
The move, which is likely to gain full backing from the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement when it meets in Tehran later this month, is strongly opposed by Israel and the United States.
Speaking to reporters in Ramallah on Saturday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the Ministers’ arrival had been closely coordinated with Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian officials.
“The logistics of getting them here isn’t easy at all, especially as some countries have no relations with Israel and cannot enter through the Israeli border,” he said.
The Palestine Committee comprises Ministers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cuba, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Senegal, Colombia and India.
Normally, anyone visiting the Palestinian territories can only get there by flying into Tel Aviv then driving through Israel to reach Ramallah, or coming through an Israeli-controlled border crossing from Jordan.
In a bid to simplify the logistics, Malki said the Ministers would be flown by helicopter from a Jordanian airport to Ramallah in a move which still requires Israeli permission.
What do you expect the Israeli government to do? You don’t recognize its borders. Why seek approval to cross those borders? It makes a lot of sense.
My passport clearly stipulates that Israel is one tiny piece of real estate in the world that I am not allowed to set my foot on. I can still do but I should not expect to have my passport back when I re-enter Malaysia. Passport is government property.
With PAS in government, I do not expect to see any change.
Why the West Bank ? Why not Gaza ? We can go into Gaza via Egypt and the Israelis won’t be able to do anything about it .
Not recognizing Isreal is more political than what is claimed as a religous leaning.. An obsolete weapon as old as Hang Tuah’s Taming Sari to keep the Malay/muslim mindset in bondage The peak of Malayan naivety… Congrats though to Chong Wei , grandchild of a pendatang for a spirited performance ..
Tel Aviv’s action is utterly disappointing but not unexpected. This conservative government continues to labour under the belief that its long term security and survival is ensured by totally isolating itself from the Palestinians and the world at large. The strategic landscape in the middle east is changing and Israel will not be totally untouched. The effect of this strategic shift will be far reaching. The sooner Israel learns to engage with the international community the better.
The scars bleed again as ever , if and when Israeli’s atrocities to the Palestinians were painted on the wall…The Arab and Moslem world at large shared their suffering, humiliation and hardship..With US half baked policies in the Middle East the NAM perhaps could see the light at the tunnel’s end…
Danikdaud,
Why use the word pendatang?
Barry,
What half bake policies are you talking about? It’s geo political control la dey
Bean suk,
You are right! Why should the Israelis? It’s funny that Malaysia got this kinda stupid policy. There are so many atrocities happening around the world. Heard of western Sahara conflict. Really really one forgotten one. Haiya
Loose 74 , it is meant in good faith… A reminder to the bigots , Malaysia is diversified in its racial composition which is , in every circumstance , a blessing in disguised.. Personalities the likes of Nicol David , Lee Chong Wei and Miss Malaysia/universe Kimberly Legget who incidentaly is related to me have lifted the nations name to new heights.. And they are every bit a Malaysian as much as Pak Din Merican is…
Looes74,
These guys in Malaysia have long been exposed to anti-Jewish sentiment and a new generation has since grown up believing what they read in the media and hear from the grapevine. I can understand why Malays who are Muslims easily buying into all that garbage Mahathir churned out meant for local consumption but not the non-Malay non-Muslims. What is their beef??
Do you know the other role of JAWI? They are an association of grave diggers. Tun Suffian (the country’s top judge) married his Jewish wife. It is OK by Islamic tradition for a Muslim man to take on a Jewish wife and for her to retain her faith. But not by UMNO or PAS brand of Islam. So her body had to be stolen in the middle of the night from the hospital mortuary and buried without the consent of her next of kin. How would you feel if they take your body and dump you into a Hindu cemetery?
_______________
There is no more feeling left when one is dead. It is the living who are making one big fuss. Hope that is the right answer for you, Mr. Bean? –Din Merican
Israel is not interested in seeking an end to its conflict with the Palestinians. It wants to create an enclave for the Palestinians which it can control economically. This is because in contrast to the Arabs, the Palestinians are a hard working, smart and shrewd people who can beat the Israelis at their own game. The United States will continue to be Israeli’s sponsor and security guarantor. No US President can survive if he fails to support Israel. Two state solution is based on making Palestine a parasitic state. The rest is diplomatic doublespeak. –Din Merican
Dato Din,
Why not Muslim nations change their thinking & try to strategise a little, and accomodate the right of existence of Israel ( an attempt to curtail their land-grab agendas.
Israel ( the Zionists ) loves some of the silly things muslims do, and give them the pretext for preemptive strikes, like what Iran blares ” …wipe them out of the map…” . Plastenian women & children using catapults & throwing stones, so give Israel ” excuses” for Incursions for the land-grab. Muslim nations not recognizing their existence, another HUGE reason for lobby in the US, to arm them with nuclear & other assortments, for Military Superiority…?
So Israel loves these Stupidities…..
Din,
Come to think is it Israel not interested in peace? Israel stuck out his hand to shake with egypt. It’s the us wanting to dominate this part of the world by having a faithful ally in the region. Plus just as the British did in the last 1 or 2 centuries, Divide & conquer
Bean suk,
It’s amazing that 10 democrats defected to vote against tax increase for the rich. Oh come on, by increasing 4% more income tax will lead to economic disaster. We do live in a crazy world.
Back home we have one pm who abolishes luxury tax. His wife seems to be very happy
Abnizar,
The joke is there is plenty conflicts. One forgotten one & still fighting is western Sahara conflict. This is a country where Moroccans who are Muslim invaded & occupied another country. And the whole world shut their eyes on it. That country inhabitants happen to be Muslim. And we can still visit that country. Haiya
“There is no more feeling left when one is dead.” — Dato Din
Has anybody returned from the dead to tell us that??
Another case of ” your funds are welcome but you are not welcome”