ISRAEL MUST BE FORCED OUT OF GAZA, SAYS M'SIAN PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Any resolution passed by the Special
Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Friday morning must
ensure that Israel is forced out of Gaza, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.

While thanking UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the convening of the
Special Session which Malaysia and several other countries had urgently called
for, Abdullah said the United States should also not oppose whatever resolution
that would touch on Israel, which is on a military offensive in the Gaza Strip
since Dec 27.

"We have proposed it (Special Session)...so as usual, Malaysia will be
involved (in the resolutions)," he told reporters when asked about the UN
General Assembly Special Session, which Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim also
touched on at the official opening of the Institute of Diplomacy and
International Relations new campus by Abdullah, here, Thursday.

Abdullah said if the resolution on a ceasefire was passed, then Israel must
withdraw from Gaza and not just set a condition for Hamas to stop its rocket
attacks on Israel, which Tel Aviv claimed to be the reason for Israel's military
onslaught on Gaza that has so far killed over 700 Palestinians and injured
another 3,100 or more.

"Israel must get out of Gaza, then only will there be a ceasefire," he said.

Abdullah said he had not seen the resolutions to be tabled, but added that
United States stance was vital in resolving the crisis in Gaza because normally,
Tel Aviv would wait for Washington's reaction on issues involving Israel.

"If the US allows it, as had been indicated by Bush's (US President George
W. Bush) statement....Israel will start attacking. So, in this crisis, America's
role is very important. We hope the US will not veto the resolutions called for
by other nations."

Abdullah said Kuala Lumpur also did not want to see Palestine to continue to
be divided with the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on different sides.

He said Malaysia was committed to solving the issue of Palestine involving
two countries (Palestine and Israel) which had their own boundaries and be
recognised by the international community.

Abdullah also said that the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Palestine was
relaunched Thursday and he appealed to all Malaysians to contribute to the fund
like in the past.

"Regardless of race or religion, we can contribute an amount within our
means and all donations are tax-exempted," he said.

On the Special Parliament Session on Palestine this Monday, Abdullah said he
would start it by making a speech and supported by Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Razak, while the Opposition Leader would also make a speech with Rais winding up
the speeches.

Meanwhile, Rais said the decision to hold the UN General Assembly Special
Session showed the success of Malaysian diplomacy following the letter sent by
Abdullah to Ban Ki-moon and by the leaders of other countries.

"The letter sent by the prime minister (to the UN Secretary-General) bore
fruit. Now the UN has agreed to convene the session, which also means reviving
the session that was held before on Resolution 377. So, there is not much
difference (from the original request by Malaysia for an emergency session to
stop Israel's atrocities."

Rais said what was important would be the language used in the resolutions
to be tabled, to reflect the international community's pressure on Israel to
stop its aggression and carnage in Gaza.

Rais hoped that Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the UN Hamidon Ali
would ensure that a number of important issues such as a ceasefire, monitoring
system for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, as well as humanitarian aid be
included in the resolutions.

According to him, Resolution 377 was on giving power to the UN General
Assembly to meet, discuss and decide on the sovereignty of Palestine and "now
there is a minor amendment to include Gaza".

"In the coming Special Session, the US cannot oppose the resolutions to be
tabled like what it can do in the UN Security Council," he said.

Earlier, in his speech, Rais read out the letter from Hamidon on the
consensus to hold the Special Session.
-- BERNAMA