KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is disappointed by the failure of the United Nations Security Council to admit Palestine as a full UN member.

       Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said it was concerning and disappointing that a veto was exercised to block the council from admitting Palestine as a full member of the United Nations despite the clarion call by an overwhelming majority of member states.

       "The exercise of a veto on this crucial matter has called into question the genuine desire on the part of the council members... to realise the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, including their right to self-determination from the decades of Israel's illegal and belligerent occupation of the Palestinian Territory of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem since 1967.

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       "Malaysia remains committed to the Palestinian cause and will continue efforts towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," he said in a statement on Friday (April 19).

       He added that Malaysia strongly urged the international community, including the security council, to continue efforts to admit Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

       Palestine's request for membership was rejected on Thursday (April 18) following a veto by the United States.

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       Twelve members of the security council had voted in favour while the United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained.