PUTRAJAYA, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will send a peacekeeping force to Southern Lebanon under the United Nations' (UN) auspices despite opposition from the Israeli regime, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Thursday.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the presence of Malaysian peacekeepers was most welcome by Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Tourism here, he said he could not understand why the presence of Malaysian peacekeepers there was being objected to merely for the technical reason that Malaysia had no diplomatic ties with the Israeli regime.

Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said this when asked to comment on the objection as reported in the press today.

Malaysia, he said, had an excellent record in terms of providing service by its peacekeeping force.

In fact in Bosnia, the Malaysian peacekeeping force had served outstandingly.

Asked whether Malaysia's stand on the Israeli regime could influence the quality of service rendered by the Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon later, Najib said the country's peacekeeping force had always served in a professional manner.

He said the UN had not informed Malaysia when it could send its peacekeeping force to Lebanon.

The UN had also not informed Malaysia about the objection by the Israeli regime against the presence of Malaysian peacekeepers there.

The Israeli regime was reported to have objected against the participation of Malaysian troops in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon on grounds that Kuala Lumpur had no diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.

The Israeli objection could pose difficulty to UN efforts to send peacekeeping forces to Southern Lebanon to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire between the Israeli regime and Hezbollah beginning Monday.

Besides Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei are among the Muslim countries that have offered to send up to 1,000 troops for the peacekeeping force. France too had made a similar offer.

In BEIRUT, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said it was the UN and not the Israeli regime that had the final say in selecting the peacekeepers to monitor the situation in Lebanon.

He was commenting on a Reuters report Wednesday stating that Israel wanted only countries that had diplomatic relations with her to participate in UNIFIL while those without diplomatic ties like Malaysia would not be acceptable.

The UN Security Council had unanimously accepted a resolution calling for the ceasefire on Friday.

The resolution enables the UN to send up to 13,000 troops to beef up the present strength of 2,000 troops in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

-- BERNAMA

why isreali object? what do you think?

Afraid that some Malaysian 'jihadists' will join the peacekeepers and kill Israelis?

For Israelis, you dont have to be afraid of our peacekeepers!! Why? Reasons:

1) They're professional and had done many peacekeepings WORLDWIDE.

2) No Jihadists allowed in Malaysian army - No beard allowed in Malaysian army...:brother: <--- you cant see this fella in Malaysian army.

Originally Posted by syilla

why isreali object? what do you think?

Does Malaysia recognize Israel's existence?

i'm not sure...

maybe nm can answer you on that.

Originally Posted by KAding

Does Malaysia recognize Israel's existence?

Malaysia has no diplomatic relationship with Israel.

Israelis are not allowed to enter Malaysia and vice versa by using passports. They have to get special permissions from either country they want to visit.

Malaysia would have diplomatic relationship with Israel with conditions that Palestine must be fully independent.

Originally Posted by north_malaysian

Malaysia has no diplomatic relationship with Israel.

Israelis are not allowed to enter Malaysia and vice versa by using passports. They have to get special permissions from either country they want to visit.

Malaysia would have diplomatic relationship with Israel with conditions that Palestine must be fully independent.

Ok, thank you. Out of curiosity, is Israel on any of the maps in your school books? ;).

why isreali object? what do you think?

Malaysia does not recongnize Israel as a country. Therefore compare it to this situation.

Say that during the Iraq war they wanted to bring in Israeli peace keepers! How would you feel about that? Good?

Originally Posted by therebbe

Malaysia does not recongnize Israel as a country. Therefore compare it to this situation.

Say that during the Iraq war they wanted to bring in Israeli peace keepers! How would you feel about that? Good?

Salaam,

isrealis peacekeeper,,,you eman the same peacekeepers that bomb palestinian and lebanese wihout care...those kind of peacekeepers?

Salaam,

wish that mroe Islamic coutnries will break ties with the Isrealis regime and any coutnry that support the terrorist country.

Malaysia is correct,Islamic coutnries should stop using the dollar and alienate israel.

but so far many Islamic coutnries like egypt and saudi arabia ,jordana dn some other are in bed with the westeren powers for their own benefit forgetting the Ummah.

Malaysia is correct,Islamic coutnries should stop using the dollar and alienate israel.

Do you really think if Islamic countries stopped speaking to Israel it would really effect Israel's economy very much? You have to give Israel a little bit more credit than that son.

If you are really naive enough think that, then you have a lot to learn about Israel's political and financial relationships.

Originally Posted by therebbe

Do you really think if Islamic countries stopped speaking to Israel it would really effect Israel's economy very much? You have to give Israel a little bit more credit than that son.

If you are really naive enough think that, then you have a lot to learn about Israel's political and financial relationships.

salaam,

Dont worry about my naivety ,just concetrate to enjoy your life in israel...tho breif it may be.

also in economic,you will have a push pull factor,tell me,what happen when other coutnries follow the Malaysia way and block all trade with israel?

think about that and perhaps you will udnerstand world economic.

Inshallah perhaps the next muslim leaders will boycott all companies that have products made in Isreal....Motorola..Infineon..San Disk....and so on..

Inshallah...

Originally Posted by north_malaysian

:brother: <--- you cant see this fella in Malaysian army.

LOL

Originally Posted by KAding

Ok, thank you. Out of curiosity, is Israel on any of the maps in your school books? ;).

yes.

Originally Posted by therebbe

Malaysia does not recongnize Israel as a country. Therefore compare it to this situation.

Say that during the Iraq war they wanted to bring in Israeli peace keepers! How would you feel about that? Good?

During Balkan war, Malaysia broke off diplomatic relationship with Serbia and Montenegro.... but sent peacekeepers to Bosnia and Kosova... NO PROBLEMS

Another point on peacekeeping missions. They are under the control of the U.N. general assigned to oversee the operation. It doesn't matter if they are from France, Turkey, Antarctica, etc.