Mahathir to raise Mideast conflict with Pope
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he will raise the Palestinian issue with Pope John Paul II during talks in early June at the Vatican.
Mahathir, 76, one of Asia's elder statesmen, said the Palestinian problem concerns not only Muslims but also Christians.
"Their church has also been under siege, making it difficult for them to carry out their religious obligations," he said, quoted by Bernama news agency.
The Israeli army laid siege for five weeks to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, after Palestinian militants took shelter in it.
Mahathir said he would inform the cabinet that he intended to accept an invitation to talks with the pope at its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
"The visit is not for political purposes but to benefit the Palestinians and Muslims in general," he said.
Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
Mahathir is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and also backed the US-led anti-terrorism war.
He is scheduled to be in Geneva from June 9 to 10 to attend an International Labour Organisation conference, and will visit Luxembourg on June 11 and 12, officials said.
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