Muslims protest Malawi plan on embassy in Jerusalem: Chakwera adamant
Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has written President Lazarus Chakwera to protest his intention to establish a diplomatic mission with Israel in Jerusalem.
MAM in a correspondence to the President through its chairperson Sheikh Idruss Muhammed seen by Nyasa Times has since asked the Chakwera administration to review the issue of opening the embassy in Jerusalem.
“We are aware of the importance of strengthening our relationship with other countries and the role it can play in bringing some positive change to the lives of Malawians. However, we believe that the disadvantages that would ensue as a result of the timing of the move could outweigh by far its advantages,” said Sheik Muhammed.
Israel considers the Holy City its eternal capital, but Palestinians want East Jerusalem, seized in a 1967 Middle East war, as part of a future state.
The Muslims body has told President Chakwera that it is dangerous for Malawi to open an embassy in Jerusalem “as it may open a Pandora’s Box and attract some unprecedented deplorable consequences.”
MAM warned that “extremists would target Malawi that has been safe and peaceful since time immemorial.”
Palestinian president’s special envoy Hanan Jarrar last week visited Malawi to hand over to Chakwera a letter of protest from Mahmoud Abbas on the East African country’s intention to open its embassy in Jerusalem.
“Any step taken to establish a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem constitutes a violation of relevant United Nations resolutions,” warned Jarrar.
The Muslims have said the stand of the Palestinian government that it would sever relations with any country that opens an embassy in Jerusalem would have a tremendous negative impact on the southern African nation’s negligible economy considering that Malawi is resource-strapped and one of the poorest in the world.
“Undoubtedly seeking to strengthen relations with Israel in this dangerous way would be at the cost of the innocent lives of Malawians,” warned Sheik Muhammed.
He said some assistances that Malawi used to benefit from the machinery of most of the Islamic governments such as Kuwait Fund, could be suspended.
“Consequently, Islamic charitable organisations that are used to assist this country through Islamic organisations in the education and sanitation infrastructures for instance, will no longer be there.
“Since the majority of world leaders rejected the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, due to the incessant conflicts and the numerous atrocities perpetrated against Muslims in Palestine, your Excellency! opening embassy in Jerusalem would mean justifying whatever criminal acts taking place in that territory. On the other hand, many countries would hesitate to open their doors for us, as they would consider us taking sides by supporting the minority in the issue at hand,” reads a protest letter by the Muslim to Chakwera.
Foreign Minister Eisenhower Mkaka on Tuesday said the east southern nation will open a full embassy to Israel in Jerusalem by the summer of 2021.
Malawi would become the first African nation to do so.
MAM letter to the President said that would merely exacerbate the “already negative attitude” of Muslims in the country specifically towards the former evangelical preacher Chakwera.
“Our advice to the President in this regard, is that the government should maintain the status quo in its long-time relationship with Israel by making use of Israel’s non-resident ambassador to Malawi, who is based in Nairobi, Kenya or in other close countries as it does with other countries that do not have their embassies here.
“The recent ‘Abraham Accord’ between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this year 2020 should not influence you Mr. President, since our country is different from the UAE in many respects, especially from the economy point of view. The move by the UAE is not commendable either as the majority of the Gulf countries condemned the treaty and some NGOs issued statements opposing the normalisation of ties with Israel at this time,” reads the letter.
The Muslims urge Malawi government to join the position of the bulk of the international community in the issue of establishing diplomatic relationship with Israel in Tel Aviv.
But speaking during the Weekly State House Briefings held at Mzuzu State Lodge on Monday, State House director of communication and executive assistant to the President, pastor Sean Kampondeni said Chakwera stood by the Jerusalem choice when he met the Palestinian envoy in Lilongwe.
“The Palestine authority wanted to register their point of view and the President was very glad to be able to engage with them directly on that matter in consistence with his position which he articulated before Parliament on September 10th when he was asked about the same.
“President Chakwera came out clear on that one, about his approach to foreign policy being dictated simply and only by the advancement of national interest of Malawi.
“That does not mean that if Malawi has bilateral relations with one nation, it cannot have relations with the other. The President is fully supportive of the peace process and the relationship between Israel and Palestine.”
Palestine’s South Africa -based Ambassador Jarrar said the UN Security Council Resolution 476 (1980), recently reaffirmed by Resolution 2334 (2016), does not recognize any action that seeks to alter the character and status of Jerusalem.
“Under international law, East Jerusalem [including the Old City and its holy sites] are not legally part of Israel,” Jarrar said.
Opposition members of Malawi’s parliament have recently also raised concern about opening an embassy in Jerusalem.
One of social media commentators, Joshua Chisa Mbele, posted on his Facebook wall that one of the decisions that Chakwera should do is to reverse the decision to have an embassy in Jerusalem.
“To error is human. Malawi erred. We must quietly undo our decision. Build the embassy in Tel Aviv,” he says.
But Chakwera has been firm on the move and justified his foreign policy decision, saying that it was not new in Malawi, as during the one-party regime of founding President Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the country also had diplomatic ties with Israel until 1994.
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It is clear that many writing here do not understand the significance of opening an embassy on Jerusalem. It is not about having an embassy in Israel.
Tonse Alliance (TA) MUST go ahead with their plans for Jerusalem. No turning back. We do not have issues with Israel as Malawi. This is for the good of the country not a sect of religion. Bravo, TA!!!!!!!
Chipembedzo chovuta ichi. Some are moderate and others are extremists. It is not good to use force on others and you should know that no one owns a person. Even your children are not your property. Is Malawi the only country to have an embassy in Israel? Recently we saw UAE and Qatar change the hardline policies on Israel. Please do not bring the ancient disputes of descendants of Israel (Jacob) and those of Ishmael (son of Abraham through Hagar) here. That is none of our business.
When they were deciding that they will open an Embassy in Israel, nobody asked me as a voter, nor was parliament ‘foreign affairs committee ‘ …. if it even exists asked…. then to premature join the Trump driven, American Right wing agenda is even scary…. ie by deciding to put this Embassy in Jerusalem…. now doing all this without patiently waiting to see how the USA presidential election was going to turn out is Geopolitical naivety at its best…. Why are we in Jerusalem? Whose purpose does it serve? If the USA reverses their madman decision and move back to… Read more »
So sheik muhamed wants to encourage his fellow radical extremists to attack Malawi
Amalawi ndi zitsiru zodya fumbi. Mulungu wanu ndi Mzungu. This is why you worship Chakwera wa Nyau fake busa. Kadyeni ndowe za mu nyau . Gule kwao ma Bible mmanja . Nsupa zili ku Pulpit.
Kodi Muluzi ndi Peter ndiye anali wanthu? Pakuti onse awiriwa ndidzitselekwete dzokha dzokha. Mbuzi iwe cadet ukulira.
Gule wa Ku Lilongwe nyau. Pitani kuda BIII Ku Jerusalem and see if the Yahudin Will love a fat black woman like you
Foseki
You must be very crazy idiot. Kutukwana will not help Malawi. We have our home as Malawi.
I know you are being paid to write shity stuff about the President.
choka galu wanyau. Ndatukwana iweyo. Kadye dothi la ku LUMBADZI GOLOGOLO
Openga ndi a mako. Anakuphuzitsa kupembeza yesu. Jesus was a homosexual priest from the vatican. Cesar BOGIER.
And Israel will help. Why cant the christian fake god help a malawi without telling them to worship Jesus. Crazy is you . worshiping a white god.
Choka apa. Wamisala ndi iweyo. Worshipping Jebus
Chakwera ndi bubu. Gututu wopanda mzeru. Degree ya baibulo instead of ya law. Chigoba cha mafuta noni noni. Kape. Molo moti apite akafunse anzake a Kagame, anzake a Mwagafuli. What does this nyau gologolo do. He takes him greasy face to Israel kukayambitsa embassy. Malawi ndi fumbi kobooo. Lilongwe kupanda ma Chinese omwe anabweretsa wa Mutharika kuli ndowe za nyau. Aganga amene mukunena kuti you can take on ma Palestine you havent see war. You havent seen Libya and all of them. You havent been to war. You cant even fire a bullet. A silikali a ku Malawi can only… Read more »
Mukunama inu tanenani zina anthu amve, mukulira simuli m’boma pam’nyapanu
Maggie siwe wa mcp bible thumping prostitute. Pitani mukapembeze mulungu wanu Mzungu wa ku Mississpi kapena ku Assembly of god. Agalu odya dothi
Unene zina iweyo Magret ndi ma degree a baibulo
Maggie ndi degeree yako ya Bible udazadabwa kuti Jesus is fake god. Created from the minds of the perverse vaticans. But Khala choncho ndi mafuta a nyau za ku Dowa
Foseki
Kutukwana will not help Malawi. You are being paid paid by mbuyanu uja wopanda manu mkamwa
We stand with in agreement with President Chakwera decision. It’s better to be Biblical correct than political correct, for it is eternal covenant God made, “that says those who bless Israel shall be blessed and those who curse Israel shall be cursed”.
The bible is fake. Its a fairy tale. Biblically correct you will find that Jesus is a cartoon character. HAHAHAHAH
Asa a country we see the importance of being in a close relatioship with Isarael. The fact that Pealestinians do not have good relationsship with Israel does not mean that all countries will not and MUST not. Saeeb Eracate has dies in the Isreal hospital where were their fellow palestinians to take care of him? why had they to send him to their enemies hospital? And by extension why should they then stop use from enjoying full relationship with Israel? Those who talk about extremist taking advantage, why are they terrosizing other innocent countries laready? This is just their teaching?… Read more »
Circular state ? Now how can anybody take your comment seriously.
Chakwera is on ego trip: He is using the presidency to further his personal agenda rather than the country’s agenda. Tel Aviv should be the only choice. Because of his ego he is forgetting that he was elected to improve the lives of ordinary Malawians; and not to focus on Jerusalem or even Bushiri. In two to three years’ time when Chakwera loses popularity, he should remember the things he is doing now. He is losing sight of why he became President, and is hellbent on pursuing his egotistic personal agenda. A Malawian struggling to make ends meet at Bangwe,… Read more »
Even an ardent LCM supporter knows what you have said is nothing but the truth.solve our problems,which there are many,do not dovetail on something that has no relevance on our daily lives.somebody who voted for a change didn’t expect this change,I was looking for real changes after 26 years of heist.
Chakwelayu uyu,palichachikulu kuseli kwa nkhani imeneyi.Musachite ukhutukumve akulu.
South Africa sidziko lachisilam,koma limalongosolela bwino kuipa komanso ukathyali wamuyuda ndipo amakanilatu poyela zaubale wa ukazembe,chikhalilecho muli ayuda ambili.Pitani ku orange groove,adzadzana kumeneko.