Mahathir Shrugs Off U.S. Criticism, Renews Attack on "arrogant" Jews
The veteran leader, who retires later this month, launched his latest salvo despite being chided by U.S. President George W. Bush at a Pacific Rim summit in Thailand on Monday for his "wrong and divisive" remarks on Jews.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Mahathir also criticized Western media, who he said took his comments at last week's summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia out of context.
"In my speech I condemned all violence, even the suicide bombings, and I told all Muslims it's about time we stopped all these things and paused to think and do something that is much more productive," he said.
"That was the whole tone of my speech but they picked up one sentence where I said that the Jews control the world. "Well, the reaction of the world shows they control the world."
The comments attracted a volley of international criticism, led by Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who on Monday slammed the remarks as "slanderous".
But Mahathir denied White House's claims that the U.S. leader had "pulled him aside" to rebuke him during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting which concluded on Tuesday.
"All he told me was: 'I regret having to use strong words against you'. He did not rebuke me at all and after that we were walking practically hand-in-hand," Mahathir said.
In his fresh broadside in the Bangkok Post, Mahathir accused the West of double standards in declaring outrage over his comments.
"The Europeans and the Americans and others want to condemn me when, in fact, one chap said all Muslims are terrorists. (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi himself made a statement that Muslims are terrorists. "Did the European Union pass a resolution to say that this is against Muslims?" he asked. "Why is it that when people condemn Muslims the European Union does not try to say anything?" "Israel is a small country. There are not many Jews in the world. But they are so arrogant that they defy the whole world. Even if the United Nations say no, they go ahead. Why? Because they have the backing of all these people."
European Union leaders meeting for a summit in Brussels on October 17 condemned Mahathir's comments but the criticism came in a statement from the Italian presidency of the EU and not in the conclusions of the summit.
Mahathir, who is known for his forthright style, told the Post he believed his comments at the OIC summit were only partially reported by the Western media because "many newspapers are owned by Jews".
"They only see that angle and they have a powerful influence over people," he said. "Only their side of the picture is given now. The Muslims, we are pictured as terrorists, unreasonable people, unable to administer our countries, unable to develop our countries."
He also had some words of advice for Bush on the handling of his "war on terror". The issue dominated the APEC summit, much to the annoyance of Mahathir, who believes the forum should remain focused on trade and economic issues.
Asked in the Post interview whether Washington was capable of resolving the campaigns it had started, he replied: "Not in the way they are approaching conflicts.
"Using force to make people democratic, I think is wrong," he said.