Anwar: I’ve never had ties with Israel

Reading out copies of Mahathir’s letters to former Israeli premiers, Anwar told a rally that it was Umno-BN which was constantly seeking ties with Tel Aviv

KEPALA BATAS: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim insisted that he had never established any ties with, or written letters to Israel, unlike former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking at a rally here today, the Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader said that he had always been consistent and umcompromising in his stance on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Mahathir’s three letters to former Israeli premiers Yitzhak Rabin (Dec 21, 1993), Benjamin Netanyahu (March 14, 1997) and Ehud Barak (June 8, 1999), said Anwar, is proof that the Umno-Barisan Nasional federal government has recognised the state of Israel.

Reading out copies of Mahathir’s letters that were released by the government, Anwar said the former premier was constantly seeking permanent political and economic ties with Tel Aviv.

“I’ve never had ties with Israel or written letters to them. It was the former PM and Umno president who did it,” he told a rally at the PAS operations centre in Pongsu Seribu last night.

He said this when clarifying his statement on the Israel-Palestine issue which he gave during an interview with international publication, Wall Street Journal, on Jan 26.

Anwar told the pre-dominantly PAS crowd that the question of recognising the Jewish state or forging ties with Tel Aviv was subjected to conditions that remains contingent on Israel respecting and fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians.

‘Umno twisting stories’

Among the Palestinians’ aspirations were the establishment of an independent sovereign state of Palestine, complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, end of their seizure of Gaza and recognition of Jerusalem as the holy capital city for Muslims, Jews and Christians as well.

But Anwar said Umno tried to manipulate his WSJ statement that read: “I support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel” although he stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step which he added remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians.

“Umno has been twisting stories that I recognise and protect Israel,” he said.

On the domestic front, he called on Pakatan leaders and supporters to win the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat, which borders Anwar’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, in the coming general election.

PAS is expected to contest the seat under Pakatan’s electoral arrangement, and speculation is rife the party deputy president Mohamad “Mat” Sabu is the favourite candidate.

“We must all work hard to ensure PAS wins Tasek Gelugor,” said Anwar.