Malaysian PM fires parting shot at U.S.

[Resistance]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1067528818618_62938018/?hub=World

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Retiring Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has taken some parting swipes at the United States -- this time about slavery and Christianity -- and compared Europe's past ill-treatment of Jews to the way Israel currently treats Palestinians.

Mahathir, who steps down Friday after 22 years in power, used a visit to a mosque to stoke the controversy he triggered two weeks ago in comments that alleged Jewish world dominance.

The remark was widely condemned and prompted a U.S. Senate vote this week to tie $1.2 million in military aid for Malaysia to a guarantee of religious freedom and tolerance for Jews.

Mahathir, who has urged Muslims to reject violence, including Palestinian suicide bombings against Israelis, said the Middle East conflict is, in essence, a land dispute, not a religious one.

[Adalah]

1. As I've commented before

it's unfortunate that Mahathir included anti-semitic garbage in his speech of two weeks ago. As indicated here, he called for an end to suicide bombings and a rejection of violence, among other things.

[Gimel]

6. Perhaps the end to violence

The end to violence such as suicide bombings would be a first step to showing he is sincere at his claim that the Moslems are in fact full of sorrow over the European treatment of the Jews. Maybe this would help to repair the damage that the militants have done in teaching hatred to their children.

Many people have shared their native lands with outsiders from around the world. None of the outsiders even had as clear a claim to the land they settled as do the Jewish people. None were as persecuted in the lands they were fleeing. The real need is to work together to build a future of peace.

It doesn't matter anymore that a plot of land was once farmed by a prominent Arab family, now part of a high-rise complex. That has happened everywhere in the world. The Palestinians can't turn back the calendar at will to erase the past 55 years. They are not the only inhabitants if planet earth.

[_Jumper_]

10. What do Muslims have to due with suicide bombings?

How can you say that the actions of a small faction of lunatics has to be stopped in order to prove that the other 99.99999999999% of Muslims are sympathetic with past European treatment of Jews?

[Resistance]

2. I know it's an old story by now

but I hadn't heard about that Senate vote until reading this -- Interesting that Mahathir's stupid and bigoted remarks are enough for our brave senators to call for putting conditions on military aid to Malaysia, yet Israel can continue to terrorize, murder, and expand settlements on land that isn't theirs, yet where are the senate votes to make Israeli military aid conditional?

It's not there is it. What a brave Senate we've got. Stupid remarks are worth threats of withholding money, but terrorism, murder, and stealing land isn't.

[bemildred]

3. I don't think $1.2 million will get much notice.

Most likely it's "training" and such anyway.

[Gimel]

7. Then you've missed a lot

There have been discussions, and the amount spent on the settlements has been deducted and aid will be deducted for the settlements and no final word on the effect of the Wall.

[tinnypriv]

8. Wrong

No decision has been made by the United States.

[bemildred]

4. Haaretz piece:

I don't think I'll do any excerpts, but there is some
excellent flame bait in it.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/355593.html

[cantwealljustgetalong]

5. Dear Mahathir...

talk is cheap...

Sharon's got his people up to something with some speed-of-light who-zit-what-zit...and you're still standin' around yappin'...go get crackin'...or you'll never catch up...

[Resistance]

9. yeah Mahathir!

and Bush has got his people livin large too!

Go U-S-A! Go Is-ra-el!