ISLAMIC COUNTRIES SHOULD CUT TIES WITH ISRAEL

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Islamic countries that have
bilateral ties with Israel should cut off diplomatic ties immediately to protest
against the cruelty inflicted by the Jewish state's regime on the Palestinian
people in the Gaza Strip.

Former Malaysian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Syed Hussein
Al-Habshee said Muslims could only protect themselves effectively from any form
of cruelty and oppression through education as was done by the Jews.

Syed Hussein gave as example how the 14 million Jews in the world had
produced 150 Nobel prize winners compared to just three Muslims from among 1.4
billion Muslims.

"The strategic and long term step to counter Jewish influence is through
education and mastering science and technology," he told Bernama here today.

He said among Islamic nations that had ties with Tel Aviv were Egypt and
Jordan.

"The countries concerned should immediately call back their ambassadors from
Israel and sever diplomatic ties with the Jewish nation. This would be an
immediate step to protest against the vicious actions of Israel," he said.

Syed Hussein, who lamented what he described as weak reaction by Arab
nations to Israel's actions, said countries in the oil-rich region were
indifferent to the fate of the Palestinians.

Israeli air, sea and land attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed more than
500 people, including women and children.

Syed Hussein also said the Arab League made up of 22 countries in the Middle
East had failed in discharging its responsibility to highlight the plight of the
Palestinians and free them from the colonisation of the Jewish state.
-- BERNAMA