SINGAPORE: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told Australia that the planned relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem was as good as recognising Israel's aggression against the Palestinians.
He said although Australia has yet to make a decision on the matter, he had pointed out that in dealing with terrorism one has to know the causes.
"Adding to the cause of terrorism is not going to help.
“Australia has not made any decision. They are looking into it,” he said.
Dr Mahathir told this to reporters after holding bilateral talk with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison here.
The prime minister has consistently highlighted about Israeli transgressions against the Palestinians.
In his speech at the United Nations general assembly in September, Dr Mahathir said the world rewarded Israel including deliberately “provoking Palestine by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel".
“It is the anger and frustration of the Palestinians and their sympathisers that cause them to resort to what we call terrorism. But it is important to acknowledge that any act which terrify people also constitute terrorism.
“And states dropping bombs or launching rockets which maim and kill innocent people also terrify people. These are also acts of terrorism,” he said then.
Australia’s plan to mover its embassy has also been criticised by Indonesia which had threatened Jakarta will not sign a free trade deal with Canberra of Morrison government shifts its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.