Activists from Israel along with Palestinians and delegates from more than 20 countries have been invited to Malaysia to participate in a conference on promoting peace in the Middle East, organisers said today.

Chandra Muzaffar, chairman of the organising committee, told AFP that the aim of the conference was to establish a global network of civil society organisations which would work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

"It is in line with a United Nations call to bring peace," he said.

Chandra said the Israeli activists who would attend the March 28-30 conference, were opposed to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Some 400 participants including from Malaysia, the United States and Britain would be attending, he added.

Gov't to issue visas

Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Malaysia is opposed to the Israeli occupation and supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The conference is backed by Peace Malaysia, a grouping of 1,100 organisations and includes the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the governing party of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah is expected to open the conference to be held in the new administrative capital of Putrajaya, south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Conference chief coordinator Mukhriz Mahathir said up to 20 Israeli participants would attend, adding that "we have asked the foreign ministry to provide visas for them and the response is positive."