PAS today slammed the Muslim world for its 'deafening silence' over Israel's attack on Lebanon and its incursion into Gaza.

In a press statement, party president Abdul Hadi Awang took the Malaysian-chaired Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab league to task.

"We feel that it is due to the incompetence of the Arab and Muslim nations that effective movements like Hamas and Hizbullah have come to the fore.

"The Muslim and Arab people have more faith in movements like these than the ineffective organisations led by leaders of nation states," he said.

In view of this, the Islamic opposition party strongly urged the member states of the OIC to take concrete steps to stop the unnecessary massacre of civilians by Israel.

"We propose that they sever diplomatic ties with that rogue state and provide all forms of assistance to the Hizbullah and Hamas.

"Being oil producing nations, it is time that the option of utilising oil as a weapon to force the US in particular to stop its blind support for Israel," said Abdul Hadi.

US rapped

PAS also strongly condemned the ongoing attacks by Israel against Lebanon and its incursion into Gaza.

Terming them as 'barbaric attacks', Abdul Hadi said PAS was also concerned with the Zionist regime's threats to encircle Lebanon which will only cause further hardship and suffering.

"The unnecessary loss of hundreds of innocent lives including small children is evidence of the regime's brutality which has been its trademark since its inception by the western powers in 1948.

"This latest rounds of wanton attacks on targets in Lebanon and Gaza is only further proof that this regime will not cease its uncivilised behaviour unless the international community takes forceful action against them," he added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hadi also took a swipe at the United States for supporting Israel despite claiming to be a champion of human rights.

"Perhaps the US definition of human rights does not include the hapless populations of Palestine and Lebanon - anyone there be it men, women and children could be slaughtered at will and this would not constitute any breach of human rights," he said.