Palestine embassy to be set up in Jordan because Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel, says Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's plan to open an embassy accredited to Palestine in Amman, Jordan is because it has no diplomatic ties with Israel, the Parliament heard.

"That is the main reason why we cannot open our office in Ramallah, in West Bank. If our embassy is opened in Ramallah, Malaysia will need to officially engage with Israel for logistics, administrative and immigration matters," Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic) told Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (BN-Kepala Batas) during the Minister's Question Time on Thursday (Oct 31).

Reezal had asked Wisma Putra to state its detailed plans to open an embassy accredited to Palestine in Amman, Jordan.

Saifuddin said the government is taking the necessary steps in order to realise the opening of the embassy as soon as possible.

"Our ministry is in the midst of gathering information to implement this decision and getting feedback and experiences from parties that had opened diplomatic missions or embassies in Palestine," he said.

He added that Wisma Putra had contacted Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are working closely to identify all the necessary processes to realise the Malaysian government's intention as well as reviewing internal procedures to set up such an embassy.

Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian) asked all parliamentarians to stand up in the Dewan Rakyat as a sign of support for the government's efforts for the Palestinian struggle.

On Oct 25, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that Malaysia will open an embassy accredited to Palestine to enable it to extend aid to Palestinians more easily.

Dr Mahathir said this when addressing leaders and representatives from 120 member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the 18th NAM summit.

He said the opening of the accredited embassy would allow Malaysia to extend aid to Palestinians more easily although he acknowledged that Israel will find a way to ensure no aid reaches Palestine.

Currently, there are more than 30 diplomatic offices and international organisations in Palestine's Ramallah and Gaza.

Palestine currently has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur while the Ambassador of Malaysia to Egypt is accredited to Palestine.