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.