Malaysia has reaffirmed that it will not recognize Israel as a state despite growing pressure from the United States, according to a report published on July 28. The country said its policy would not change even as members of the US Congress called for a review of security and economic relations with Kuala Lumpur.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the US State Department recently summoned Malaysia’s ambassador in Washington, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob. The ambassador clearly conveyed Kuala Lumpur’s position, Hasan said. He described Malaysia’s stance on Israel as neither new nor a response to recent events, saying successive Malaysian governments had followed the same official policy from the beginning.

Citing national news agency Bernama, Hasan said Malaysia’s immigration policy does not recognize the state of Israel or the Zionist ruling establishment. Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and maintains a ban on entry for Israeli passport holders as part of its solidarity with and support for Palestinian rights. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the policy on July 15.