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