The US State Department summoned Malaysia’s ambassador in Washington, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakub, to explain Malaysia’s position and policy concerning Israel, Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama confirmed. After the summons, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the ambassador told the United States that Malaysia’s refusal to recognize Israel as a state was not a new decision, but a longstanding institutional and government position.

Hasan said Malaysia’s immigration policy gives no recognition to the state of Israel or Zionist rule, describing it as a policy followed for many years. He said a person holding both US and Israeli citizenship recently entered Malaysia using a US passport, but was instructed to leave quickly after checks identified the person’s Israeli citizenship. Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said any Israeli citizen found in Malaysian territory would be immediately deported. Malaysia’s Home Ministry has also opened an investigation into the Network School project following social-media allegations that several participants were Israeli dual nationals using passports from other countries to enter Malaysia, potentially violating immigration law.