KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia strongly condemned the latest incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem by more than 1,000 Israeli settlers and senior Israeli officials on Sept 28.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, said the repeated incursions constituted a serious violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo governing occupied East Jerusalem and Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
“These actions are not merely isolated provocations, but part of the ongoing efforts to alter the identity and character of Al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied East Jerusalem.
“Malaysia categorically rejects any such attempts and stresses that the sanctity of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the religious rights of Muslim worshippers must be fully respected and upheld,” it said.
Malaysia also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take urgent and concrete action to compel Israel to immediately cease what it described as deliberate and flagrant violations.
“Israel must be held accountable for its continued attempts to undermine the historical and legal status quo at Al-Haram Al-Sharif,” it said.
Malaysia also reaffirmed its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
It reiterated its longstanding support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. --BERNAMA