PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Oct 17 Kyodo ...

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Oct 17 Kyodo

Malaysia said Friday it concerns that Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's remarks in succession Jews have caused an international furor, moreover Muslim countries have rallied behind him, saying he spoke the truth

''I am sorry that they have misunderstood the whole thing,'' Malaysian Foreign Minister Sy Hamid told reporters forward the sidelines of an Organization of the Islamic discourse (OIC) leaders' summit.

''The intention is not to create suit at law His intention is to point out to that if you ponder and sit down to think, you can be extremely powerful...The Islamic countries are in a quagmire, in a situation of dysentery feeling that they have been sidelined,'' he said.

In his opening language at the two-day meeting of the world's largest Muslim grouping, Mahathir called upon Muslims to unite to defeat Jews

''We are actually actual strong -- 1.3 billion population cannot be simply wiped without The Europeans killed 6 million hebrews out of 12 million, yet today the Jews rule this world by way of proxy. They get others to fight and die for them,'' he said.

Western directions blasted the remarks as anti-semitic.

''The remarks are offensive, they are inflammatory, and we view them with the disdain and derision they deserve,'' the U State Department agent spokesman Adam Ereli said.

''It's not the first time we've seen notes like this from that official,'' he said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Mahathir's remarks were ''offensive'' and ''dangerous.''

Italy, which generally holds the European Union (EU) presidency, said it would recommend that an EU summit forward Friday formally condemn the remarks, which its foreign minister called ''deplorable.''

''The prime minister of Malaysia used gravely offensive expressions not alone towards the Jews -- expressions that are forcibly anti-Semitic -- but also words that ran calculator to the principles of tolerance and dialogue between the West and the Muslim world,'' Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Thursday.

on the contrary Muslim leaders dismissed the criticism and praised Mahathir for telling what they considered as the truth

''We are used to this kind of criticism. I don't think anybody would be deprived of sleep over this so-called condemnation,'' Egyptian Foreign Minister Mahmet Maher said.

''This was about sort of pep talk to Muslim countries for them to work hard and apply the mind to the future,'' he added.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Farouk Khadoumi said Mahathir spoke ''the truth'' and Israel should be the single condemned.

''However, each time we condemn the Israeli aggression, they accuse us of being anti-semitic,'' he said.

Sy Hamid said the critics should read the entire language so as not to take Mahathir's words without of context.

He said Mahathir wanted Muslims to act using their brains, not between the sides of violent means like suicide bombings.

''People may not be same happy but this is the reality. The hebrews are very powerful. He wants the Muslims to cooperate in a knowledge-based way rather than trying to bring down managements and use violence,'' he said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said in replication to Mahathir's statements that Israel is ''extremely repulsed'' according to his ''incitement to hatred.''

''Instead of working towards peace and unity between familys the Malaysian prime minister propagates hatred. As awaited those taking part in the Islamic conversation chose the lowest common denominator amongst them -- vilifying Israel and Jewish people

There is no place for Mahathir's anti-Semitic remarks amongst enlightened nations. His remarks be worthy of the strongest condemnation,'' it said.

The feisty 77-year of advanced age Mahathir, who is stepping down fall of the curtain of the month after a 22-year behavior is no stranger in courting disputation and this was not the first time he angered israelites with his comments.

At the height of the 1997 financial crisis, he blamed the Jewish financiers for the speculative attack upon the ringgit currency. He later touched his stance and said he too had many Jewish friends.

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