Israeli, ministers meeting rapped

Israeli, ministers meeting rapped

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's foreign minister came under
fire on Thursday from the Islamic opposition party for a meeting
he held with the Israeli foreign minister at the United Nations.

Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) described Israel as a "terrorist"
country and said the meeting "disgraced Muslims and Malaysians."

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar and the foreign minister of
the state of Israel, David Levy, in New York focussed on
cooperation and the relationship between Malaysia and Israel.

It said Syed Hamid passed on Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad's congratulations Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for
his victory in the recent general elections.

Malaysia's government does not recognize Israel and has been
an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause over the years.