US summons Malaysia envoy over Kuala Lumpur’s Israel entry ban
Malaysia says its ambassador defended a longstanding policy barring Israeli nationals after US lawmakers objected to deportation plans.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
The US summons Malaysia envoy story has put Kuala Lumpur’s Israel policy back under scrutiny after Malaysian officials said Washington called in Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob. Malaysia’s foreign minister, Mohamad Hasan, said the ambassador told the US Department of State that Malaysia’s refusal to recognise Israel was an established position, according to state news agency Bernama.
Bernama reported that Hasan spoke about the matter on Thursday night. He said Malaysia’s immigration stance does not recognise Israel and has been in place for years.
Hasan said the immediate case involved a person with both US and Israeli citizenship who entered Malaysia on a US passport. After checks showed the person also held Israeli citizenship, Malaysian authorities ordered the individual to leave, Bernama reported.
Why did the US summon Malaysia’s envoy?
The diplomatic move followed criticism over Malaysia’s handling of Israeli citizens and people with Israeli links. Bernama, Anadolu and Reuters reported that the issue escalated after questions emerged around Network School, a digital nomad community founded in Malaysia by US investor Balaji Srinivasan.
Social media users had claimed that Israelis were among the school’s participants. Malaysian authorities investigated Network School and found that participants had valid travel documents, but the school was closed on Tuesday, according to the reports.
The dispute then drew attention in Washington. Eight US members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio objecting to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to identify Israeli citizens in the country and deport them immediately, the reports said.
What is Malaysia’s policy on Israel?
Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Its government has long aligned its policy with support for Palestinians and opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, according to Anadolu and Reuters.
Anwar said on Wednesday that Malaysia would keep barring Israeli citizens from entering the country, despite objections from the US lawmakers, Bernama reported. He said Malaysia’s position was tied to defending Palestinian rights and opposing what he described as oppression, aggression and continued killings in Gaza.
Bernama quoted Anwar as saying that threats would not change the government’s position and that he would defend Malaysians’ rights while upholding the decision to continue blocking Israeli nationals from entering Malaysia.
What did US lawmakers ask the State Department to do?
The eight US congressmen urged the State Department to review economic and security relations with Malaysia, according to the reports. They also called for funding cuts to the International Military Education and Training programme unless Malaysia reversed its decision within 15 days.
The programme provides professional US training for Malaysian military personnel. The reports did not say whether the State Department had announced any further action beyond summoning the Malaysian ambassador.
The episode adds strain to ties between Washington and Kuala Lumpur at a time when Malaysia is reiterating one of its most durable foreign policy positions. Malaysian officials have framed the entry ban as an extension of the country’s non-recognition of Israel, while the US lawmakers described the deportation plan as grounds for a reassessment of bilateral cooperation.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.