Malaysia appoints consuls in West Bank, Gaza

The Malaysian Foreign Minister announced the appointment of two consuls for his country in Ramallah and Gaza, in a move that Palestinian Authority could interpret as a Malaysian recognition of Gaza as a separate entity
Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysian Minister for Foreign Affairs, addresses the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit September 24, 2018 at the United Nations in New York, a day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah addresses the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, New York, Sept. 24, 2018. - TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
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Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah announced Dec. 28 the appointment of honorary consuls for his country in Gaza and Ramallah. This follows an announcement by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the Non-Aligned Summit in Azerbaijan on Oct. 25 that his country intends to open an embassy accredited to Palestine but located in Jordan.

Abdullah expressed hope to see the embassy open this year; he said Malaysia would not locate the embassy in Ramallah to avoid having to deal with Israel over the matter. He said Malaysia seeks to obtain Jordan’s consent to open the embassy.

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