KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should continue amplifying its voice in support of the Palestinian cause and the recognition of Palestine as an independent state.
Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a prominent Jewish figure against Zionism and the Israeli occupation of Palestine, said Malaysia has shown exemplary distinction between Judaism and Zionism in the ongoing conflict.
Weiss, who is currently visiting Malaysia, also said that the Zionist ideology, which manipulates Judaism and the Torah to gain the support of the Jewish population in Israel and other countries, is against the original teachings of the religion.
"We are very pleased when we look at Malaysia (in its efforts to elevate the voices of Palestinians). This includes the support given by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (the former prime minister) as one of the people who continuously talk about the cause.
"(I hope Malaysia) keep on working (to support the Palestinian cause) and do not be afraid of the anti-semitism," he told reporters after a special discussion held by the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS), today.
Weiss added that the Zionism ideology in Israel was based on a nationalist movement that has been going around for 100 years for the establishment of a Jewish state and land occupation, which is considered a crime in its religion.
He also said the Jewish population globally agreed that Israel has no right to create a state based on the land of others.
"However, this is what the opposition (Israel) has been doing and this is why we are standing up for the suffering of the Palestinians.
"As real Jews who are practising the religion, we cry together with the people of Gaza as it (the actions by Israel) is unacceptable.
"They are masquerading in my religion by taking only one inch (of land) and occupying Palestine for 76 years," he said.
On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the United Nation's top court ruled that Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories was illegal and needed to end as soon as possible.
He added that Israel was "under an obligation to immediately cease all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers" from occupied land.
ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam said the court found that Israel's continued presence in the Palestinian territories was illegal and Israel must end the occupation as soon as possible.
After the ruling, the Palestinian Authority's state minister for foreign affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said the ruling marked a great day for Palestine, historically and legally.
He also said the ICJ was the highest judicial body in the world and it had presented a very detailed analysis of what was going on throughout Israel's prolonged occupation and colonisation of the Palestinian territories in violation of international law.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will decide on its next course of action following ICJ's ruling during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
He said the Cabinet will discuss and decide on the steps to respond to the ICJ ruling against Israel.