The following is the letter written by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel in 1993, as released by the Foreign Ministry here today.
PRIME MINISTER MALAYSIA
21 December 1993
His Excellency
Mr Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
JERUSALEM
I would like to thank you for your letter of 17 October informing me about the Agreement of Principles and Mutual Recognition between Israel and the PLO.
My government supports this positive development and views it as a first step towards the realization of a comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem. As a demonstration of Malaysia’s support to this development my country was represented at the Donor’s Conference to support The Middle East Peace held in Washington and subsequently pledged a modest financial contribution to the Palestinians to assist in their new tasks. My government has also offered the Palestinians technical assistance under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme.
Malaysia as a matter of general principle is prepared to develop relations with Israel at the appropriate time. In the meantime, we would like to see tangible progress in the implementation of the peace agreement.
The Middle East problem particularly the Palestinian issue has been a cause of instability to the region and I hope the recent agreement between Israel and PLO would contribute to lasting peace to the area.
I look forward to normal relations with Israel. (this last sentence is hand written)
DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
