THE United Nations invited Israel for the 9th World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur as it is a global event, not Malaysia, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said today. 

Anifah said the UN through its agency UN-Habitat, which organised the forum from February 7 until yesterday, had issued the invitation to Israel.

“It needs to be emphasised that unlike the other letters of invitation, the letter of invitation to Israel was not signed by any Malaysian official. 

“Therefore, the issue of Malaysia tacitly establishing links with Israel through the hosting of this forum does not arise. Our position on Israel remains unchanged. To imply otherwise is an indication of malicious and malignant intent,” he said in a statement today.

Anifah said this in response to civil groups who questioned Putrajaya’s decision to allow diplomats from Israel to enter the country and attend the forum.

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?

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.

According to the report, the country’s delegation was led by Israel’s deputy diplomat to the United Nations David Roet.

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 to play in an international cricket tournament in Kuala Lumpur, in which 22 countries participated.

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.

This morning, PAS also condemned the Israeli diplomats’ presence in Kuala Lumpur.

Its vice-president Mohamad Amar Nik Abdullah said the Islamist party will issue an official statement soon to protest against Putrajaya’s decision.

“This (reflects) Umno’s two-faced attitude,” the Kelantan deputy menteri besar told The Malaysian Insight.

Ties between the Islamist party and Umno and PAS are improving after the latter chose not to join opposition pact Pakatan Harapan after Pakatan Rakyat was dissolved in 2015.

In December, Umno held a “Save Jerusalem” solidarity rally in Putrajaya where senior PAS leaders were present.

The rally began with a special forum before Friday prayers and Palestine’s ambassador to Malaysia Dr Anwar H. Al Agha was a participant. – February 15, 2018.