Malaysia willingly pays price to support Palestinian rights

Tamara Nassar Activism and BDS Beat 28 January 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says, ”We cannot do anything to Israel, but we don’t want to have anything to do with them.” (Kremlin.ru)

A Kuwaiti jiu-jitsu fighter withdrew from a tournament after he was paired with an Israeli fighter.

Meanwhile, Malaysia chose to forfeit its hosting of the World Para Swimming Championships rather than grant visas to Israeli nationals. The Asian nation took the decision in solidarity with Palestinians, but has been fiercely attacked for its stance.

Abdullah al-Anjari was scheduled to compete with Eitan Seri-Levi at the All Americas Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Los Angeles earlier this week.

“I declare my withdrawal from a local tournament in Los Angeles because I was paired with a fighter who represents the Zionist entity,” the Kuwaiti athlete stated on Twitter.

“Palestine is more important to me than a world championship.”
Al-Anjari received widespread support from fellow Kuwaitis and others from the region:

History of anti-normalization

Many Kuwaiti athletes have withdrawn from championships over Israeli participation in the past, as Muhammad al-Awadi wrote in Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai.

In November, Kuwaiti olympic athlete Abdulaziz al-Shatti withdrew from the World Fencing Championship in Switzerland after he was set to compete against Israeli player Grigori Beskin.

The Kuwaiti National Assembly hailed “the withdrawal of national player Abdulaziz al-Shatti from the World Fencing Championship in Switzerland in rejection of competing against a player from the occupying Zionist entity.”

Kuwaiti Saleh Abdulaziz al-Haddad also withdrew from a long jump championship in Belgium over the participation of an Israeli athlete in June. He was also commended by the Kuwaiti National Assembly.

In 2015, Kuwaiti athlete Fahad al-Bastaki withdrew from the Wheelchair Fencing World Cup in Pisa, Italy, after learning he would face an Israeli.

And, Kuwait recently refused to co-host the FIFA World Cup with Qatar in 2022 for reasons that relate to the attendance or participation of Israeli nationals in the championship.

Malaysia takes a stance

Meanwhile, as several Gulf states race to embrace Israel, Malaysia took a firm stance against normalization.

The International Paralympic Committee has stripped Malaysia of its right to host the World Para Swimming Championships in July and August over the country’s refusal to allow Israeli athletes to participate.

The championship is important for qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

“Malaysia will not host any event that has representation from or participation of Israel,” Saifuddin Abdullah, the Malaysian foreign minister, stated.

Israel’s foreign ministry condemned Malaysia’s decision, labeling its Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as anti-Semitic for refusing to normalize relations with Israel.

Echoing the Israeli foreign minister, a representative of the European Union, a staunch supporter of normalization with Israel, celebrated the decision to withdraw the swimming contest from Malaysia as “an important victory against discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism.”

Malaysia’s foreign ministry said that it was “deeply disgusted” by Israel’s smears against the Malaysian prime minister.

“For more than half a century, Israel has continued to disregard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, while committing inhumane policies and practices that are in clear violation of international laws. Israel has no right to talk about moral values when they themselves are the exact opposite,” the ministry stated.

“[Israel is] a country which does not obey international laws, including building settlements in other people’s countries,” Prime Minister Mahathir recently stated at the United Nations.
Mahathir also referred to Israel’s raids on maritime aid conveys headed for Gaza: “They have raided these in international waters, and the ships were arrested and taken to Israeli ports.”

“There are many other things that are done by Israel that are against international law, that are against morality and human rights,” Mahathir added. “We cannot do anything to Israel, but we don’t want to have anything to do with them.”

Since the Great March of Return protests against the siege of Gaza began last March, thousands of Palestinians, including athletes, have been shot by Israeli snipers, many suffering permanent disabilities.

Malaysia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

Tags

Comments

picture

Parveez Asghar replied on

Bravo Mr. Mahathir. Thank God there is one leader with a spine and a moral compass that does not bend a knee in front of Israel and the Zionists

picture

patrick mc cabe replied on

well done malasia.stand up for decency and fair play and against israeli brutality of palestinians.you are an example to the world.

picture

NestorMakhno replied on

A consequent and moral decision. Rogue states shouldn't be embraced.It is a deep shame that the EU obviously doesn't care a damn about human rights and morality
I presume these are the famous "European values"about which European states use to brag. What are these values? They are immorality, hypocrisy, cheating, lying and bring complicit in land theft and the violation of human rights

picture

Martin O'Brien replied on

It is an overwhelming joy to know that there are at any rate a few countries in the world that act rationally and justly and nobly. Respect to you, Malaysia! I fervently hope that you will not be undermined by the criminals that run the UK, the US, France and other "Western" countries.

picture

Azmuneer replied on

Apparently EU prefer to ban palm oil import dt so called deforestation in order to save orang-utan..but no ban on israel for committing genocide..it seems life of animals nowadays is more valuable than human life..

picture

denise ward replied on

Much love to the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad! And all the athletes who took a stand.

Tamara Nassar

Tamara Nassar is an assistant editor at The Electronic Intifada.