Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Sep. 27.

During his speech, he lambasted the UN for failing to prevent wars, and defended the use of palm oil.

He also criticised Israel in his address to the UNGA, calling the "creation of Israel" the cause of "enmity towards Muslims and Islam".

Blamed Israel for Muslim oppression

Mahathir implied in his address that the creation of the state of Israel was the "root cause" of modern terrorism.

He said:

"The first act engineered by the Western countries is the creation of the state of Israel by seizing Palestinian land and expelling its 90 percent Arab population.

Since then wars have been fought in many countries, many related to the creation of Israel.

(Western countries) prefer military action and sanctions. And they will continue to fail to stop terrorism."

He also stated that Israel was to blame for the enmity towards Muslims and Islam:

"Because of the creation of Israel, there is now enmity towards the Muslims and Islam.

Muslims are accused of terrorism even if they did nothing. Muslim countries have been destabilised through the campaign for democracy and regime change."

The 94-year-old leader blamed powerful, democratic countries for the atrocities and oppression faced by persecuted Muslims.

He said:

"Friends may break any law and get away scot-free.

Thus, Israel can break all the international laws and norms of the world and it will continue to be supported and defended.

The unfriendly countries can do nothing right. There is no justice in the world."

Defended use of palm oil

The Malaysian leader also highlighted his objection of the ban of palm oil imports at the UNGA, stating that there was "no evidence" to show that it was poisonous.

Mahathir stated that palm oil was still a large contributor to Malaysia's economy, and told world leaders that they "will be doing a good deed by consuming palm oil".

He also pointed out that Malaysia had kept to its pledge at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, to maintain at least 50 percent of its land mass under forest cover:

"We have made good our pledge and better. Our forest cover is currently at 55.3 percent exceeding our Rio pledge," Mahathir added.

Urged other countries not to resort to war

Mahathir told world leaders that "both the victors and losers suffer" in war, and that there were other ways to settle disputes.

He cited negotiations, third party arbitration and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as examples, stating that Malaysia has set an example by following such steps.

The Malaysian leader shared that there were "wins and losses" in both wars and negotiations, but highlighted that the consequences in war was much heavier than the latter:

"In a contest between two parties, one must lose if the other is to win.

But if we use peaceful means we can still lose but it will cost us much less. No one would die, nor land devastated," Mahathir stated.

Top Image via Mahathir bin Mohamad/FB (Chedet Official)

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