KL slams Israel for ban on Mahathir

KL slams Israel for ban on Mahathir

MALAYSIA: Malaysia criticized the Israeli government on Tuesday for banning former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad from entering Jerusalem, saying the city "is not theirs".

Mahathir, whose comments have in the past infuriated Jews, was visiting the West Bank when he was prevented from entering Jerusalem on Monday.

"Jerusalem is not theirs (Israel's) ... It is an open town that anyone can visit," said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, describing the ban as arrogant.

Mahathir's only intention in visiting the area was to see and understand the situation for himself, Najib told the official Bernama news agency.

"Mahathir indirectly wants to help find a political solution in keeping with the decision of the world to set up peace in Palestine," he said.

The Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurie, also criticized the Israeli action, and Mahathir told a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah: "I hope that my next visit will be to Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state." -- AFP