Gerakan condemns Liberal International on Israel stand

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan expresses regret over UK-based Liberal International’s (LI) support for Israel in the ongoing atrocity being carried out against Palestinians in Gaza.

Gerakan secretary-general Loh Kah Yong, in a statement, described LI’s decision to announce its support without the consensus of its members “as distasteful”.

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“We respect the differing opinions and celebrate our ideological differences as a mature democratic party. But Gerakan believes the line stops at the deliberate ignorance and defence of genocidal regimes.

“It is regrettable for Liberal International to publish statements in support of Israel without the consensus of its members and observers, including Gerakan.

“We find this distasteful and disappointing, as the international community should be standing firmly in solidarity with the Palestinians, instead of showering support on the aggressor, (including) Israel.”

Loh said Gerakan urged LI to withdraw its support towards Israel and use its platform for the “right cause by calling out and urging the end of human rights abuses happening in Palestine”.

“Gerakan will not hesitate to take stern action including withdrawing our further engagements with the organisation, especially when it contravenes the very values of liberty, equality, and community it long espoused.

“The humanitarian crisis in Palestine transcends our political differences and requires our utmost humanitarian attention,” the statement read.

Earlier, it was reported that PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil had contacted LI to remove the party’s name and logo from the organisation.

On Friday (Nov 3), Fahmi had said that PKR had never been a member of LI and stressed that the party stood in full solidarity with the Palestinians.

“Lately, there have been organised attempts to link PKR to a coalition of parties, namely Liberal International.

“I can confirm that PKR is not and has never been a member of Liberal International,” Fahmi said in a statement Friday.