Malaysia’s former premier Mahathir Mohamed has strongly denounced the normalization deal reached by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel describing it as “a step backwards for peace” and a step that will stir up conflicts in the Muslim world.
In recent press remarks Mahathir a long-time defender of the Palestinians said the UAE’s agreement with Israel would “divide the Muslim world into warring factions and in this the Israelis would add fuel to the fire.”
“They will increase the ability of the contestants to fight each other and there will be no peace even between Muslim countries” the 95-year-old Malaysian leader said.
“It bolsters the stand taken by Israel that Palestine belongs to Israel. Of course there will be a reaction from the Palestinians and those who are sympathetic towards the Palestinians. This will mean prolonging the war in the Middle East” he added.
