Mahathir exchanges letters with Rabin

Mahathir exchanges letters with Rabin

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he had exchanged several letters with his Israeli counterpart Yitzhak Rabin discussing Malaysian recognition of the Jewish state.

Mahathir told reporters that Rabin had sent three letters to Islamic Malaysia since Israel held peace talks with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Mahathir said he had replied to all of them, but has not decided to recognize Israel.

"They have indicated they would like to establish relations with us. But we are not yet convinced that everything is settled between the Israelis and the Palestinians," he said.

Mahathir disclosed the correspondence when asked about reports that Tengku Abdullah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, brother of Malaysia's king, met last week with Rabin and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Israel.