TRIBUNAL AGAINST ISRAEL JUSTIFIABLE - M'SIAN FM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim said the
setting up of an International Criminal Tribunal for Palestine is justifiable as
Israel is not complying with the international resolutions that have been agreed
upon and continues to violate international law.

He said such a move, like what had been done in cases involving Yugoslavia,
Bosnia and Rwanda, was permissible under Article 22 of the United Nations
(UN)Charter and must be carried out as the death toll and injuries among the
Palestinians were increasing daily and it was clear that Israeli troops were
committing excessive violence.

"The bombing raids and ground attacks launched against the Palestinians were
killing the elderly, women and children. Schools, places of worship, hospitals
and humanitarian aid centres were also not spared by the Israeli troops.

"Although the UN Security Council had issued Resolution 1860 requiring
Israel to cease fire immediately, attacks against the Palestinians were still
continuing.

"The Israeli attacks on Gaza which has now entered its 17th day, have killed
at least 778 Palestinians including 219 children while another 3,000 are
injured," he said when winding up the motion condemning Israel for the attacks
on Palestine at the Lower House of Parliament, Monday.

Dr Rais said the Israeli attacks on Palestine were not acceptable to the
civilised international community and the law of the jungle adopted by Israel
would only breed vengeance which would lead to violence.

"The brutal killing of a family member will surely breed vengeance and
willingness to die (among those affected) as there is no point in living any
more. Just look at the gory pictures carried by the newspapers and television
stations. Those among us who see the pictures are drawn to tears, it's worse for
those who are going through such experiences in Gaza.

"Should we just keep quiet. Certainly not. A responsible nation will not
keep quiet. Malaysia will not keep quiet and will continue to champion the cause
so that the cruelty and violence committed by Israel against the people of
Palestine in Gaza will be stopped immediately," he said.

However, Dr Rais pointed out that it did not mean that Malaysia wanted to
champion the cause by joining the war because Malaysia would act based on the
international law and UN Charter and it was not proper for Malaysia to act on
its own.

He said Malaysia proposed and fully supported the creation of a UN
peacekeeping force to enforce a ceasefire and, upon its formation, Malaysia was
prepared to participate in the force if required to do so.

Malaysia's objective was to see that the violence committed by Israel was
strongly condemned by the international community, said Dr Rais.

"But this was taking too long. The Prime Minister has written letters to his
counterparts within the UN Security Council, heads of governments within the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

"The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has urged him to hold a
Special Emergency General Assembly of the UN under Resolution 355A(V) -- Uniting
for Peace -- on the crisis in Gaza.

"Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York has been
instructed to lobby and follow up on the letters sent by the Prime Minister. I
personally have written letters to the Foreign Ministers, our friends in ASEAN,
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Non-Aligned Movement.

"We welcome the assembly as it gives the international community a chance to
state their stand and aspiration in tackling the crisis in Gaza. This is the
democratic way," he said.

He said Malaysia had long supported the cause of the Palestinians and helped
the Palestinian people by channelling aid towards capacity building through
technical assistance programmes.

The Foreign Minister said that since the attacks on Gaza broke out,
Malaysians had come out in numbers to protest against the Israeli attacks and to
hand over numerous protest notes to the United States government via its
ambassador in Kuala Lumpur while mosques throughout the country had held special
sermons and prayer of need so that an immediate solution could be achieved.

"Malaysia is also following the developments in the Middle East closely. The
conflict between Hamas and Fatah is unnecessary. Malaysia calls upon the leaders
of Fatah and Hamas to close ranks immediately and unite for the sake of
Palestinian solidarity.

"This is the only way to show the Palestinian strength and facilitate
efforts at setting up a nation that would lead to national development and
prosperity for the people," he said.

Dr Rais also said that the sufferings and hardships borne by the people of
Palestine called for immediate assistance from the international community and
Malaysia too had provided assistance to the Palestinians.

"The Malaysian government has agreed to contribute RM3.4 million (US$1
million) which will be channelled through MERCY Malaysia to hand over the
humanitarian aid needed by the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Foreign Ministry
has also reactivated the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund and welcomes
contributions in the form of cash.

"The Foreign Ministry will monitor the utilisation and channelling of the
contributions received," he said.

The minister also said that the resolution passed at the Lower House Monday
would be handed over to the United States Congress and Parliaments of the
European Union via the Foreign Ministry and Malaysian missions abroad.

Thirty-one members of Parliament participated in the seven-and-a-half hour
debate on the motion.
-- BERNAMA