KUALA LUMPUR: With the government of Australia having announced their recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Malaysia voiced its strong opposition on the matter.
In a statement by Wisma Putra today, it said Malaysia believed the announcement to be premature as it was made before the settlement of two-state solution.
It also served as humiliation to the Palestinians and their struggle for the right to self-determination, Wisma Putra said.
"Malaysia reiterates its long standing position that a two-State solution, in which the Palestinians and the Israelis live side by side in peace, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, is the only viable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"Malaysia will continue to work closely with all partners to find a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict," it added.
The Palestinian leadership on Saturday described as “irresponsible” Australia’s recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying it violated international law.
Australia became one of just a few to follow United States’ President Donald Trump’s lead and recognise the contested city as Israel’s capital.
The land down under said it would open a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city and Prime Minister Scott Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Both Israelis and Palestinians stake a claim to Jerusalem as their capital.