Malaysia lost its opportunity to send its soldiers peacekeeping duties under the UN banner to Lebanon long before the present crisis.

From the moment the state of Israel came to being, Malaysia has not recogised Israel and does not have any diplomatic relations with the country. Malaysia has predicated its foreign policy in sympathy with the Palestine cause and the common thread is religion.

Otherwise how would you explain Malaysia's non-recognition of the state of Israel? Israel has not offended nor threatened the security of our country and yet we seem to regard Israel as our enemy.

Israel has every right to reject Malaysia's participation to send its forces to Lebanon for the

simple reason Malaysia cannot expect to be neutral in the case of any conflict there because of its stance towards Israel.

In the case of a conflict, Israel cannot expect Malaysia to be neutral. Without a doubt, Malaysia would be on the side of the Hezbollah irrespective of who was at fault.

In the present conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Malaysia has levelled its criticism at Israel without rebuking Hezbollah for the kidnaping of an Israeli soldier in Israeli territory.

This alone has cast serious doubts on Malaysia ability to be a country that can exert its authority in Lebanon with fairness.