Malaysia’s PM Mahathir Mohamad compares Israel to ‘crook’ Najib Razak
- The premier also had a phone conversation with Palestinian chief of Hamas
- The move is likely to anger Israel further
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday reinforced his country’s already strident anti-Israel position by comparing the Middle Eastern country to his “crook” predecessor Najib Razak, who is facing dozens of criminal charges over the 1MDB financial scandal.
His comments came a day after he held talks over the phone with the leader of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas – another move that is likely to incense Israel.
Malaysia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic ties and are locked in a war of words following the Mahathir government’s decision to ban Israeli para-athletes from an upcoming swimming meet.
Mahathir’s government says that it took this “humanitarian” decision in support of the Palestinian cause, which has a huge resonance for many in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
Israel retorted by describing the decision as emblematic of Mahathir’s “rabid anti-Semitism”.