Retract pro-Israel statement or sue WSJ, Nik Aziz tells Anwar

Nik Aziz said PAS was not in favour of the two-state solution to the Palestinian problem.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — The PAS Ulama Council wants Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to retract his statement supporting “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel.”

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said last night the council, which met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, decided the opposition leader must withdraw his statement unless the Wall Street Journal had misreported his statement.

“If the Wall Street Journal was inaccurate in reporting what he said, then we hope he will sue the newspaper,” he told reporters in Kota Baru.

The international business daily had quoted the PKR de facto leader as saying in an interview last month that he supported “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel.”

But the newspaper said Anwar stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step the former deputy prime minister said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians.

Nik Aziz said PAS was not in favour of the two-state solution to the Palestinian problem which Anwar subscribes to.

The Kelantan mentri besar said he had sent a letter expressing the council’s view to the Permatang Pauh MP.

Anwar came under heavy fire from Umno and its media after his statement was published by the Wall Street Journal in January.

He was forced to defend himself by stressing that his remarks in the newspaper meant that he supported a two-state solution, which he said was mentioned by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman when the latter addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September last year.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also labelled his former deputy a Jewish sympathiser and a leader who disregarded the plight of the Palestinians.

Malaysia is a staunch supporter of Palestine and has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

Muslim politicians have long vied for support from Malays by denouncing what they say are inhumane acts of aggression by Israel towards its neighbour.