PUTRAJAYA, Sept 14, 2018 (MENA) - Malaysia has expressed that its deep concern and strong disagreement with the recent positions taken by the US government concerning Palestine, Bernama reported. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Malaysia firmly believes that the US stance is counterproductive towards finding a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "It would also undermine and jeopardize the efforts of the international community in ensuring the security and stability of the region," said the statement. The statement said that Malaysia regarded the actions of the US government as a humiliation to the Palestinians and their struggle for the right to self-determination. "It would inflame sentiments and hamper any future peace negotiations,"it said. Over the past few weeks, the US government had decided to cut more than US$200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinians; ended its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); and ordered the closure of the office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Washington. The US government had also attributed its decision to close the PLO Office over the efforts by Palestine to prompt an investigation against Israel by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The statement said such moves by the US government weakened the multilateral system; ignored the reality on the ground; supported and helped to perpetuate Israel's brutal policies which contravened international law; and violated the rights of the Palestinian people. It also said all of these were preceded by the previous decision of the US government to recognize al Quds as the capital of Israel and subsequently moved its embassy to it, which many had regarded as unacceptable. Malaysia also urged the international community to pursue all legal, political, diplomatic and economic channels to create the necessary conditions for peace in the region.
