USA24 July, 20262 min read
U.S. Summons Malaysia’s Ambassador Over Deportation Vow for Israeli Dual Citizen
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US State Department summoned Malaysia's ambassador to clarify Kuala Lumpur's Israel policy. Malaysia reiterates longstanding policy of not recognizing Israel; stance not new.
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US summons over Israel
The U.S. State Department summoned Malaysia’s ambassador to Washington to explain Kuala Lumpur’s position on Israel after Malaysia vowed to deport any Israeli citizen found in the country.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob told the State Department that Malaysia’s longstanding policy of not recognising Israel was not new, saying, "It has always been Malaysia's policy. Our immigration policy does not recognise the State of Israel or the Zionist regime. This has long been our position."
Reuters reported the row was triggered after Network School, a "digital nomad" community founded in Malaysia by U.S. investor Balaji Srinivasan, came under scrutiny following social media allegations that it included participants from Israel.
State media, cited by Reuters, said there was an individual with dual citizenship who entered Malaysia using a U.S. passport, but subsequent checks revealed he also held Israeli citizenship and Malaysia asked him to leave, and the immigration probe into Network School was later shut down by authorities on Tuesday.
Congress presses Rubio
Eight U.S. congressmen later sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing outrage over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to track down and immediately deport any Israeli citizens found in Malaysia. The congressmen urged the State Department to review U.S. security and economic ties with Malaysia and to cut off funding for the International Military Education and Training programme unless the decision is reversed within 15 days, as Reuters reported.
In an interview with local media, Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia’s stance, saying, "We will continue this policy and will not allow Israelis to set foot in Malaysia," while also insisting that U.S. pressure would not change it. Reuters also reported that Malaysia’s ambassador reiterated that Malaysia’s longstanding policy of not recognising Israel was not new, and that authorities found all Network School participants had valid travel documents before the project was shut down on Tuesday.
Deportation stance and fallout
Malaysia’s foreign minister said the U.S. ambassador was summoned after Malaysia’s expulsion of a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and a crackdown on the Network School controversy. Mohamad Hasan told reporters that a traveler who entered Malaysia using a U.S. passport was later discovered to hold Israeli citizenship and was consequently ordered to leave, stating, "There was an individual with dual citizenship, the U.S. and Israel, who entered Malaysia using his U.S. passport."
The dispute has also been framed by some outlets around the question of how Washington responds to Malaysia’s deportation policy, with one report noting that the incident prompted a swift response from U.S. lawmakers urging the State Department to review security and economic ties with Malaysia if the policy persists. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s prime minister tied his stance to Gaza, saying, "Malaysia maintains good relations with the United States, but we cannot be cowards and fail to condemn the killing of innocent people in Gaza," as the diplomatic friction over Israel policy remained centered on Malaysia’s refusal to recognize Israel and its immigration measures.