MALAYSIA WELCOMES LATEST ISRAEL-PALESTINE TALKS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has welcomed the new round of
peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestine, but is not too optimistic
that the latest talks can produce the aspired and acceptable results for the
Palestinian people and the international community.

Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay, when contacted by Bernama
Thursday, said that looking at Israel's past track records in peace talks, Kuala
Lumpur was not too optimistic that the latest talks could produce the aspired
results.

"Of course, these negotiations are a step forward and Malaysia too hopes
that there will be a positive outcome. But for this, Israel must be serious and
honest enough," he said when commenting on the ongoing new round of
Israel-Palestine negotiations in Washington, the first direct negotiations
between them in nearly two years.

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations broke off some two years ago, but last
month both sides accepted the invitation of the United States and other powers
to resume direct talks.

Kohilan Pillay said the United States, as the main backer of Israel, must
also exert more pressure on Israel in order to find a peaceful and long-lasting
settlement to the protracted Palestine problem.

He said Israel must also stop all settlement activities on the occupied
Palestinian land.
-- BERNAMA