CIVIL society groups have questioned Putrajaya’s decision to allow diplomats from Israel to enter the country and attend the World Urban Forum (WUF) which was held from February 7 until yesterday, reported Sinar Online.

According to the portal, Aman Palestine chief executive officer Awang Suffian Awang Piut said Putrajaya should not have allowed the Israelis in as it does not have diplomatic relationship with the Jewish state.

“How could the government allow them into the country when Malaysians are sensitive about what Israel had done to Palestinians?

“They should not have been allowed (entry) even if they came in a group or had a representative, that would have shown our firm stand on Israel,” he said as reported by Sinar Online.

The Times of Israel had reported that the Jewish state’s Foreign Ministry had confirmed its diplomats were allowed into Kuala Lumpur to attend the conference.

Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the diplomat attended a WUF event which was held for a week in Kuala Lumpur.

According to the report, the country’s delegation was led by Israel’s deputy diplomat to the United Nations David Roet. The delegation had joined a forum on the United Nations Human Settlements Programme or UN-Habitat.

Malaysia does not acknowledge Israel as a country since its formation in 1948 and had always supported the Palestinian’s fight for an independent state.

But this is not the first time an Israel delegation has entered Malaysia legally.

In 1997, a cricket team from the Jewish state was allowed entrance to play in an international cricket tournament in the capital city, which was participated by 22 countries.

The decision to invite Israel was met with anger and protest by several Muslim groups.

In dismissing the protests, then deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said that sports are ‘apolitical’ and mixing politics with sports was wrong.

Then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also justified the entry of the Israeli team by saying it was intended to show Israel that people of different religions can live together in peace.

“We hope this will at least influence them (Israel) as we know some Israelis have demonstrated against Benjamin Netanyahu,” he said. 

According to Sinar Online, Al-I’tisam Relief Programme chief executive officer Mohd Shah Sapiei described the move by Malaysia as a disappointment and irresponsible.

“How could this happen? Why was no action taken by those responsible?” he asked in the report.

He said the sensitivity surrounding the matter was taken lightly when all parties know the country’s stand towards Israel, especially in granting entry to the delegation using Israel’s diplomatic passport and allowing a meeting with Malaysian officers.

“(It’s) truly disappointing by letting them into Malaysia under any circumstances, that is as if we acknowledged what was done by Israel to Palestine,” he said.

The WUF forum was attended by representatives from 185 countries and was organised by United Nations Human Settlements Programme or UN-Habitat.

As the host, Malaysia was required to approve visas to all delegates. – February 15, 2018.