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Despite allegations about the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC) quitting the government, if full diplomatic ties with Israel are established, President Kumaratunga yesterday, met with SLMC Chief and Minister at Temple trees, to discuss the government's stand with regard to Israel, sources said. Earlier
reports indicated that the SLMC General Secretary, Rauff Hakeem had in
1996 stated in parliament
that if the PA government establishes diplomatic ties with Israel, the
SLMC would quit the government. Meanwhile,
Hakeem said on Thursday that the SLMC have yet to discuss Sri Lanka-Israel
ties at an "urgent" meeting to be held by the SLMC. Acording
to political sources, Minister Ashraff
had been invited by President Kumaratunfga to discuss the
government's stand with Isarel before the the SLMC took this issue
further. they said she wished to avert
a breakdown in relations with coalition partner, SLMC, over this
matter. Meanwhile Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy has welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations. The 'Jerusalem Post' said that the resumption of ties had been preceded by "long months of quiet contact between the countries carried out on the Israeli side primarily by Israel's ambassodor to India." It
said that even when the two countries did not have formal ties, there was
still activity in the military sphere, with Sri Lankan military
delegations visiting Israel and purchasing arms.
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