Israeli "state terrorism" is a bigger danger than terrorist acts by groups or individuals, Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir said after opening a major Islamic conference on terrorism in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
"At this point in time, yes," he said in reply to a question. "We see the Israelis escalating their terrorism”.
"They are attacking civilians and leaders of a country without the benefit of declaring a formal war. This is the kind of thing that we should consider as terrorism and the world must condemn Israel for acts of terrorism."
Earlier, Mahathir told the opening of a special session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers on terrorism that Palestinian suicide bombers were also "terrorists".
In an attempt to define terrorism, he stated attacks against civilians must be regarded as acts of terror and the perpetrators regarded as terrorists.
Such acts included the assault on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11th, the human bomb attacks by Palestinians and the Tamil Tigers and the attacks against civilians by Israeli forces, Mahathir said.
Foreign ministers or their representatives from 52 countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference are attending a special three-day session designed to bring Muslim states into the mainstream of the global debate on terrorism, AFP reported.
Mahathir said that once the world had accepted a definition of terrorism, the UN should lead global action against the terrorists.
He objected to the linking of Muslims to terrorism, saying it was not perpetrated by one race or religion, and called on Muslims everywhere to "condemn terrorism once it is clearly defined. Terrorizing people is not the way of Islam."
Mahathir said, however, that Muslims had grievances that were "real and truly unbearable, beyond mere understanding and tolerance."
He then referred to the history of the Palestinian people and said, "if we are serious about stopping terrorists then we must stop both the Palestinians and the Israelis from mutual suicide."
The Asian leader, who has been in power in the majority-Muslim country for more than two decades, said there was "a great deal of bitterness and anger among Muslims" because of ideological, military and economic dominance by developed countries.
"The impotence of Muslim countries to do anything to remedy the situation adds to this frustration and anger," he said, leading some people to "commit terrible acts of terror."
"The world must deal with these misguided people not just by hunting them down but also by removing the causes of their anger and frustration," he added.
A statement by the OIC condemned Israel on the first day of this three-day conference.
It called on the U.N. Security Council and the two co-sponsors of the peace process, the United States and Russia, and the European Union to immediately stop "Israeli aggression" and to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all occupied Arab and Palestinian territories.
"The Conference strongly condemned the recent Israeli storming of Palestinian cities and villages, as well as theheadquarters of the Palestinian Presidency endangering the life of President (Yasser) Arafat and of the members of the Palestinian leadership," the statement said.
"Israel's terrorist actions and aggressive practices, posing a threat to international peace and security, and
dragging the region towards an all-out war, necessitate immediate action by the United Nations Security Council...," the statement said.(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
