The participation of five Israeli activists at a conference in Malaysia on the plight of the Palestinian people should not be construed as a softening of the government's position on Israel, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.

Following protests from hardline Islamists, Syed Hamid said there should not be any speculation that Malaysia would change its policy of refusing diplomatic ties with Israel any time soon.

"We only feel that we should listen to Israelis who have views similar to ours," he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper Tuesday.

The three-day conference which began Monday was organised by Peace Malaysia, a grouping of non-governmental organisations, and attended by delegates from the United States, Israel, India and the Middle East.

Syed Hamid said Malaysians should learn to differentiate between the Israeli government and individual Israelis.

False dawns

Asked to comment on the decision by Malaysia's hardline opposition Islamic party PAS to boycott the gathering, he said: "Although they have decided to withdraw officially, unofficially they are here at the conference."

Syed Hamid said earlier at a lunch address it was tough to be upbeat about the Middle East peace process after numerous breakthroughs in the past turned out to be "false dawns".

Recent developments, including a newly elected Palestinian leader and indications of increasing US engagement towards revitalising the road map, have provided a "glitter of hope", he said.