“Stop aggression against Palestinians and return to peace talks”

“Stop aggression against Palestinians and return to peace talks”

By Kasthuri Patto




AFTER 30 years, this year saw all three Abrahamic faiths celebrating their most prominent, solemn observances over the mid-April weekend – Good Friday by Christians, Passover by the Jews and the holy month of Ramadan by Muslims.

Amidst these holy services, clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque have left more than 150 wounded and many killed.


This should not and cannot happen in modern history where there is room for diplomacy, peace and reconciliation.


Whether Christian, Muslims or Jews, a life lost must be met with accountability and responsibility by the powers that be. The war between Israelis and Palestinians can never be justified with “an eye for an eye”, whether during Ramadan, the Lenten season or during Jewish observances. A crime against humanity is a crime against humanity and must be condemned by all.

Institutionalised aggression by the police or by individuals must be condemned and must end immediately.


The DAP reviles and deplores the desecration of any place of worship, in this case the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. This is a disputed site and still remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Nevertheless, everyone deserves to live in a safe environment and to be able to profess and practise their faiths without harm and this must be accorded to the people of Palestine and everywhere else in the world facing raging geo-political conflict.

End all conflicts

After 30 years, an overlap of these three observances should have been a landmark and monumental display of peace and truce… instead it has been marred by violence and bloodshed.

After reeling from a disastrous and devastating pandemic that swept across the globe, rebuilding the economy and investing in human development must form the axis of reconciliation between the people of both nations.

No one wants another war – whether in Ukraine, Palestine or anywhere else in the world and Governments, as well as stakeholders, must pool resources, courage and compassion to prevent crimes against humanity to ever happen again.

DAP calls for peace talks, negotiations, mediation, diplomacy between the two nations and for preventive measures to be taken to ensure a shocking attack like this will not happen again.

As a member of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia must do more to be a go-between and become peacemaker in this region. – April 18, 2022



Kasthuri Patto is the MP for Batu Kawan and DAP spokesperson for foreign affairs.