Palestine Expresses Gratitude For Malaysia's Firm Stand Against Israel Settlement

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his gratitude to Malaysia for putting forward a resolution to demand the halt of settlement activity by Israel on occupied Palestinian territory. This message was conveyed by Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Riad Malki during a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak here Thursday. Both leaders met on the sidelines of the extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on The Situation of the Muslim Minority Rohingyas. Malaysia requested the meeting in order to overcome the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State. The resolution was adopted in December last year by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Besides Malaysia, the resolution was also put forward by New Zealand, Venezuela and Senegal. It was the first resolution the UNSC has adopted regarding the Israel-Palestinian issue in nearly eight years. On the sidelines, Najib also met Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi before holding another meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. The 15-minute meetings revolved around the issue of OIC and Rohingyas. According to reports, the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State has caused thousands of Rohingyas to flee Myanmar with reports of atrocities, including rape and murder, which have been denied by the Myanmar government. The Kuala Lumpur meeting is expected to issue two documents - resolutions and a joint communique to show their united stand on the matter. -- BERNAMA