ID :
40388
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 13:33
Auther :

PALESTINE APPRECIATES M`SIA`S EFFORTS FOR PEACE

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Palestine appreciates Malaysia's efforts
to organise a special parliamentary session to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict and condemn the Zionist regime for attacking Gaza.

The attack has so far, left about 900 people dead and injured thousands,
including women and children.

Palestinian Ambassador Abdelaziz Aboughosh said Malaysia's actions showed
that the people were not alone in tackling the crisis and "we have brothers and
sisters to support us."

"We are peace lovers and want peace and justice to prevail in our country,"
he told reporters after receiving the Parliamentary resolution from Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the parliament house Monday night.

The Lower House of Parliament sat for seven-and-a-half hours, starting
2.30pm Monday, to debate and support 10 resolutions on the crisis, which among
others, condemned the Israeli attack on Palestinians in Gaza and called for an
immediate cease-fire from both parties to the conflict.

The entire House, from both sides of the political divide, supported
the resolutions unanimously, with 31 members taking part in the debate. The
motion on the resolution was tabled by Abdullah while Foreign Minister Dr Rais
Yatim did the winding-up.

Meanwhile, Rais, when met by reporters, said Palestine would obtain the
support of the Arab nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of Islamic
Conference (OIC) and Asean.

"We, in Asean, would work closely so that the US and Israel can be contained
to ensure peace prevails in the Middle East," he said.

Rais also did not discount the possiblity of calling up the US ambassador
to the country in the near future to clarify the super power's stand on the
matter.

"Even this morning, the prime minister met 12 ambassadors at the defence
ministry to explain our stand on the issue. We have given them letters to be
passed to their respective governments," he said.

On the proposed OIC peace-keeping force, he said the grouping did not have
powers to start such a force and the OIC needed to amend its charter to go ahead
with the proposal.

"This is a proposal which should be viewed carefully and could be
implemented in the future, but unlikely that it would be a reality in the near
future," said Rais.
-- BERNAMA


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