Youth league wants KL links with Tel Aviv

Youth league wants KL links with Tel Aviv

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The powerful youth wing of Premier Mahathir Mohamad's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) yesterday urged Malaysia's government to consider establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.

"History has shown that Moslems could live in peace with Jews from the time of Prophet Mohammed," UMNO youth chief Rahim Tamby Chik told the Bernama news agency.

Rahim's remarks came two weeks after the authorities confiscated the passport of the Malaysian King's brother, Tunku Abdullah Rahman, for visiting Israel.

Rahim said peace deals clinched between Tel Aviv and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Jordan set the stage for Malaysia to look into establishing diplomatic links with Israel.

But, Rahim said, Israel must show its sincerity in wanting peace and good ties with the Moslem states.

The Malaysian government censured Prince Abdullah after he admitted going to Israel in June to investigate business possibilities.

Abdullah was reported to have held talks with Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres during the visit.

Last month, Mahathir denied a Israeli television report that he secretly met Rabin during a visit to France July 6-9.