Malaysia lifts quotas on pilgrims to Israel
12/20/2012 18:42
The website of Malaysia's Star newspaper on
Thursday
announced the lifting of restrictions on pilgrimages to Israel for
Malaysians,
which will allow travel to anyone for up to 21 days at a time.
Citing a letter
issued by the Prime Minister's Office to the Christian Federation of Malaysia
(CFM), the report said that Christians in this predominantly Muslim country can
now visit Israel as many times as they want, and travel anywhere in the country
they desire.
Israel has no diplomatic ties with Malaysia, and officials in
Israel's foreign ministry downplayed the possibility that the move had any
diplomatic significance, saying it did not presage a thawing in ties with the
southeast Asian country.
While Malaysians can visit Israel, Israelis
still are unable to obtain a visa to Malaysia.