More Good News

[The Spanish Lover]

Mahathir: Jew comment out of context


Dr Mahathir

Pichai Chuensuksawadi

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says his comments about Jews during a speech at an Islamic summit last week, which prompted harsh criticism in the West, had been taken out of context.

``In my speech I condemned all violence, even the suicide bombings, and I told the Muslims it's about time we stopped all these things and paused to think and do something that is much more productive. That was the whole tone of my speech, but they picked up one sentence where I said that the Jews control the world,'' he told Bangkok Post in an exclusive interview yesterday, which covered aspects of his 22 years as leader of Malaysia, as well as his straight-forward views on terrorism, democracy and US policy.

Dr Mahathir added, however, that ``the reaction of the world shows that they [Jews] do control the world''.

During a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Malaysia last week, Dr Mahathir said Jewish people, because of their ties with the United States, had an influence in the world which far outweighed their numbers.

``It cannot be that there is no other way; 1.3 billion Muslims cannot be defeated by a few million Jews,'' he said.

The United States, Israel, Australia and the European Union have accused Dr Mahathir of anti-Semitism.

Dr Mahathir said the Americans and Europeans were out to condemn him.

The European Union had done nothing when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Burlesconi made a statement calling Muslims terrorists.

``Did the European Union pass a resolution to say that this was against Muslims? Why is it that when people condemn Muslims the European Union does not try to say anything?''

Dr Mahathir said his comments about Israel and Jews were true.

``Israel is a small country. There are not many Jews in the world. But they are so arrogant that they defy the whole world. Even if the United Nations say no, they go ahead. Why? Because they have the backing of all these people.''

Dr Mahathir said that in his speech he urged Israelis and Arabs to stop the killing and to think, pause and settle.

``I even quoted from the Koran, which says that when the enemy offers to make peace you must accept. I told the Muslims you must accept even if the terms are bad. You have to negotiate. This is the teaching of Islam. All that was in my speech... But those things were blacked out,'' he said.

[Harry]

this is funny

Dr Mahathir added, however, that ``the reaction of the world shows that they [Jews] do control the world''.

[The Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Harry

this is funny

I started laughing at this point as well.

[openminded]

Originally Posted by Griffins Sister

Mahathir: Jew comment out of context
During a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Malaysia last week, Dr Mahathir said Jewish people, because of their ties with the United States, had an influence in the world which far outweighed their numbers.

This statement is true. The rest of it is crap.

I'm intrigued by this, "The European Union had done nothing when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Burlesconi made a statement calling Muslims terrorists." since I've never heard of it...

[snarf]

Originally Posted by Griffins Sister

Dr Mahathir said his comments about Israel and Jews were true.

``Israel is a small country. There are not many Jews in the world. But they are so arrogant that they defy the whole world. Even if the United Nations say no, they go ahead. Why? Because they have the backing of all these people.''

1. when has the u.n. attempted to inforce res. 242?
2. have any of you read his origial speech, or just his few comments on israel fed to you by an "outraged" media?

[Retired Bookworm]

Anyone else think of Derek Zoolander when they read this article?

[snarf]

Originally Posted by Mecha-Bookworm

Anyone else think of Derek Zoolander when they read this article?

since i had never heard of him, and google sheds little light on why i should have thought of him if i had known, no.

[fallout]

I heard the NY Times attacked Bush for speaking out aganist this comment. Anyone who is a member there care to post the article?

[Tim><]

Upon reading the whole speech, you are right to criticize the media for harping on that one comment. There are a dozen other inflamatory comments that deserve equal attention.

[duodenum]

Mahathir is sometimes silly and emotional, but he does not seem evil. He brought peace to his country. I agree with some of his points on trade.