Recast; with spelling correction in headline. MALAYSIANS JOIN BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The Council For Ex-Members of Parliament
and State Assemblies, Federal Territory, on Monday joined scores of
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals in calling for the boycott
of Israeli and Israeli related goods and services as a mark of protest against
the regime's invasion of Gaza.

Its president, Aziz Yassin, said in a statement that this was the least
Malaysians of all races could do to register their sympathy towards the
Palestinians who had been suffering endlessly at the hands of the Zionists for
the past 50 years.

The boycott would also serve as a reminder to Israel, its supporters and
sympatisers that their uncivilised actions were being watched by all
peace-loving people of the world.

"Although they cannot do much unilaterally to stop the aggression, united
and systematic efforts at punishing the country economically will hopefully
bring some positive results in the long run," he said.

Aziz also expressed regret over the double-standards policy practised by the
United States in handling the West Asian crises.

Citing Washington's intervention to block efforts to get the United Nations
Security Council to stop the genocide as an example, Aziz said the United States
did not seem to care about the lives of innocent Palestinians, including women
and children, killed prior to and during the invasion.

Reports said the Palestinian death toll had climbed above 500 during the
eight-day Israeli air strikes and the ensuing invasion.

He said the couldn't-care-less attitude of the US, especially towards the
humanitarian aspects of the invasion, would definitely enhance international
hatred against Washington at a time when it badly needed a refreshed image.

Aziz also questioned the attitude of US President-elect Barack Obama on the
issue as he was mysteriously silent since the bombing of Gaza began.

Meanwhile, the Federal Territory (FT) and Selangor 4B Youth movement handed
a protest memorandum to the United States embassy here on the Israeli invasion
Monday.

The memorandum was handed by the chairman of the FT 4B Youth movement, Mohd
Azhari Naharuddin, to the US embassy representative at 2.50pm.

Earlier, Mohd Azhari together with almost 50 members of the movement walked
in a procession to the embassy but they were prevented from approaching the
embassy building by police.

However, Mohd Azhari and two representatives of the movement were allowed to
hand over the memorandum.

The assembly, which did not have a permit, dispersed at 3pm.

Meanwhile, the president of the 4B Youth movement, Mohd Ali Rustam in his
statement urged Israel to stop the attacks that killed innocent Palestinians,
adding that the continued violence showed that Israel did not respect the rights
and sovereignty of Palestine.

"We implore the United States of America and Israel to declare Hamas as
the ruling government in Palestine and respect the sovereignty of Palestine by
demolishing the brick wall which surrounds Gaza and allow international/external
help especially from the United Nations (UN) in Palestine.

"We hope that the US Embassy will convey this objection represented by the
youths of Malaysia to the US President George W.Bush, to intervene and stop the
Israeli attacks on Palestine," he said.
-- BERNAMA