Malaysia israel relations

Israelis unable to compete in FIDE amateur chess tournament taking place in Malaysia

FIDE's official announcement states that "all FIDE member federations and all eligible players are invited to participate." However, Malaysia's entry restrictions prevent Israelis from competing.

India's Vishwanathan Anand plays against Israel's Boris Gelfand during a tie-break of FIDE World chess championship match in State Tretyakovsky Gallery in Moscow on May 30, 2012.
A supporter of Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, chairman of the Pakatan Harapan (The Alliance of Hope) coalition, holds a Malaysia flag during an election campaign rally on November 16, 2022; file photo.

Malaysia amb. to US summoned by State Department over country's Israel policy

Anti-Israel demonstrators hold cutouts depicting US President Donald Trump’s face as they march towards the US Embassy to protest the president's visit to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Sunday, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 24, 2025

Malaysia vows explusion of Israelis found in the country amid investigations into Tech community

 Israel police arrests a terror suspect in east Jerusalem

Malaysia jails Israeli for seven years on firearms offences


'Not guilty,' Israeli man pleads regarding firearms offenses in Malaysia

Avitan arrived in Malaysia from the United Arab Emirates on March 12 on a French passport, police said. He was detained by police at a Kuala Lumpur hotel with a bag containing the weapons.

A general view of Malaysia's National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, February 25, 2020

Dozen Israelis make emergency landing in Malaysia on Emirates flight

The emergency landing was reportedly due to severe weather conditions. 

 Emirates offers third daily flight

Israel barring Malaysian ‘Embassy to Palestine’ because of antisemitism

As a result, Malaysia opened an “Embassy to Palestine” in Amman, Jordan.

Palestinian refugees hold Palestinian flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of UNRWA office in Amman, September 2, 2018.

A privilege, not a right

Speaking at Columbia University is a privilege, not a right

Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad

Columbia U. to host antisemitic Malaysian PM

93-year-old Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has a history of making antisemitic statements.

Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during the APEC CEO Summit 2018 at the Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 17 November 2018

Malaysia’s tourism minister says homosexuals don’t exist in his country

The Berlin-based daily paper Tagesspiegel queried Mohammaddin bin Ketapi about whether his country is safe for homosexuals and Jews

Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad

Olympic coach stands up for Israeli swimmers banned from Malaysia

Award-winning Polish swim coach Bart Kizierowski vows not to train Malaysian athletes if Israelis are banned from their country.

Israel swimming team

Israel and international sporting: A new wave?

Even after the embarrassment of being disqualified from hosting such an uplifting international event, Malaysian officials were unrepentant and stood firm in their resolute hatred for Israel.

swimming pool under water illustrative

Malaysia's PM: 'The world obeys Israel, we don't'

Mahathir said that Malaysia has the right “to voice our own feelings and to have our own policies.”

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad_311

Malaysia stripped of paralympic swimming championships after Israelis ban

The International Paralympic Committee vowed that all athletes should be able to compete without discrimination, after the Muslim-majority country barred Israelis from the competition.

Swimming race [Illustrative]