TWO-STATE SOLUTION: MALAYSIA STANDS STEADFAST IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIAN RIGHTS

By Nabilah Saleh

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s unwavering support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital, is driven by the aspiration to secure a better future for the Palestinian people.

Geostrategist Prof Azmi Hassan said the firm stance has remained unchanged despite changes in Malaysia’s government leadership, reflecting a long-standing national commitment to the Palestinian cause.

“It has been Malaysia’s consistent position,” he said, adding that Malaysia has long advocated for the return of Palestinians displaced in 1948 to their original territories, whether in Gaza, the West Bank or Israel.

“The key factor is that it must be based on the boundary before the 1967 war, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

“We support Hamas, but not as a military group -- rather as the governing authority in Gaza. The international community must understand this nuance,” said the renowned analyst who is also a Senior Fellow of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR).

Azmi, who has expertise in Geomatics, Geospatial, and International Relations (IR), said Malaysia adopted pragmatic approach, engaging with Hamas while maintaining a firm position against Israel’s actions.

“This underscores our commitment to seeing a sovereign Palestinian state in the very near future,” he told Bernama.

Though border disputes and differing interpretations of sovereignty remain significant challenges, Malaysia also has been active in advocating for international action against Israel, particularly through cooperation with Arab and Muslim nations, he said.

He added that Malaysia’s position aligns with the broader international consensus that a two-state solution is the only viable path to lasting peace in the Middle East.

“I think the majority of Western nations and others agree on the two-state solution. That’s the only way Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace,” he stated.

Azmi also highlighted Malaysia’s efforts at the international stage including drafting a resolution at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) calling for Israel’s removal from the UN.

“Malaysia is trying to draft a resolution, not only regarding the removal of Israel from the UN but also to address jurisdictional issues, such as Israel blocking UNRWA operations in Gaza,” he said.

While acknowledging the Herculean task of achieving this goal, Azmi stressed its importance in demonstrating that Israel’s actions are increasingly isolating it internationally.

“It’s an uphill task, but something needs to be done to show that Israel is a pariah state.”

Concurring with Azmi, the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) head of research, Dr Abd Latiff Mohd Ibrahim, said Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, emphasising that the establishment of a Palestinian state is an international obligation.

This position, he said has been consistently upheld across successive governments, reflecting the country’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

“Even now, our prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has stated it quite eloquently that this is what we stand by. There is no two-state solution if there is no Palestinian state. The setting up of a Palestinian state is an obligation on all countries of the world,” he told Bernama.

Abd Latiff attributed Malaysia’s strong stance to its identity as a Muslim-majority nation and the solidarity of the Malaysian people with the Palestinian cause. 

“The factors shaping the government’s position include the support of Malaysians for Palestine and the principles of the MADANI Malaysia framework, which emphasises compassion,” he said.

He added that Malaysia’s advocacy for Palestinian rights is rooted in the government’s moral obligation to address the oppression and ongoing genocide faced by Palestinians. 

“If we don’t talk about Palestine or act on behalf of the Palestinians, who are being oppressed at this level, then we lack the compassion that MADANI Malaysia stands for,” he said.

Malaysia’s commitment to the Free Palestine movement is also aligned with its support for the two-state solution, Abdul Latiff noted, emphasising that the establishment of a Palestinian state is both a fundamental right and a pressing necessity amid ongoing oppression by the Zionist regime.

“The two-state solution implies that Palestinians must first be free. What the current Zionist regime is doing makes the movement to free Palestine and establish a Palestinian state even more urgent,” he said.

-- BERNAMA