This will unite the people and remind the world of their sufferings

by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by TMR FILE

THE Chair on Justice for Palestine will be established at the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, which will open research facilities to support the Justice for Palestine Action Front’s (JPAF) efforts.

At the virtual launch yesterday, former Prime Minister (PM) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) said urgent research is needed to unravel, determine and develop the best solution for the complex Palestinian issues.

“One of the more popular propaganda disseminated was that Israel was formed on a land without people.

“While the advent of the information revolution and subsequently the proliferation of the new media had managed to debunk old propaganda deceitful myths and misinformation, the perpetrators are equally adept in utilising the new media to disseminate disinformation and turn around their aggression and belligerence as acts of self-defence and retaliation to Palestinian provocation,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that JPAF, consisting mostly of university professors and academics, has gained traction and can now count on the support of many civil societies and individuals in Malaysia, as well as overseas.

He commended the effort by The Best Fikrah founder and chief editor Emeritus Professor Datuk Abang Abdullah Abang Ali and his team for setting up JPAF.

“Given the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the team, I strongly believe that it will make significant contributions in efforts to fight the cruelties and injustices committed towards Palestinians by the Israeli regime,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that Palestinians — comprising Muslims, Christians and Jews — were living together peacefully in Palestine for over 1,000 years, right up to the times of the Ottoman rule.

“It does not take a genius to see through the disproportionate attacks, weapons and deployment of destructive ordinances by the Israelis on Palestine shows who the aggressor is.

“Further to that, the deaths of Palestinians who are mostly non-combatants or civilians, children, women and elderly folks whenever conflicts occur reflects the kind of murderous and ruthless regime that Israel is,” he said.

The Langkawi MP said Palestinians have been living in what is described as the largest open prison during the times of relative peace, while being squeezed out of their homes, deprived of basic amenities and any medical facilities face the risk of being targeted and destroyed.

Dr Mahathir said their lands were grabbed by Israeli farmers, forcefully and backed by the Israel Defence Forces and Zionist paramilitary outfits.

“I can go on and on with the list but suffice to sum what the Israeli regime is attempting to achieve is to bully and wipe Palestinians out of existence.

“All these are neither conjectures nor figments of imaginations. They occur daily for the world to bear witness,” he said.

As such, he said people must unite and remind the world of the Palestinians’ sufferings, and he felt encouraged seeing young Jews from Israel and around the world protest against the atrocities.

“With more and more people coming forward denouncing the belligerent regime, and as international public opinion swings sufficiently against the illegal occupation of Palestine, we may still hope to see the end of Israel’s apartheid, hopefully in our lifetime.

“Indeed, it has been a very long call for changes in Palestine and bringing an end to the cruelties inflicted on Palestinians,” Dr Mahathir said.