Arab League, OIC need to unite to pressure Israel

SHAH ALAM - The Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) need to unite to put pressure on the Israeli regime to immediately stop violence in Palestine to avoid more bloodshed.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) international law expert Associate Professor Dr Salawati Mat Basir said pressure from the two organisations was more important than expecting action from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

This is because the UNSC which is funded by the United States (US) was definitely more inclined to favour Israel, she said.

"Actually, the UNSC will not be respected by Hamas fighters (if asked to stop attacks on Israel) because the public knows the UNSC's one-sidedness in the issue of the Israeli regime's aggression against Palestine.

"So, in this matter the Islamic countries need to be firm, the Arab League and the OIC," she told Sinar.

She said this following Malaysia's call for the UNSC to take immediate action against violence in Gaza.

When asked about the implications of Israel's attack, Salawati said, it was feared that it would trigger a bigger war considering the demographics of the war in West Asia.

"We are worried that this attack by the Israeli regime will stimulate the spirit of Islamic countries to provide military aid, especially Iran, which has nuclear weapons," she said.

Meanwhile, University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia Sharia and Law Faculty Senior Lecturer Associate Professor Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow suggested Muslim countries hold an immediate meeting to create an aid plan for the Palestinian people including military equipment, food and medicine.

"It can be given by all means whether land, sea or air. If there is any resistance or attack from the Israeli army, then military action must also be taken by the Muslim countries," he said in a statement on Tuesday.