PORT DICKSON: Malaysia is only against Israel's oppressive actions and is not anti-Semitic, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said Malaysia will not budge on this stance.
"We are not insulting the Jews. We are against what Israel is doing," he said.
"We are being labelled as if we are against a certain group. We are only against countries that oppress others," he told reporters after attending a national patriotism programme at the Army Basic Training Centre (Pusasda) on Friday (July 24).
In his speech, Anwar said Malaysia preserved good relations with all countries but stood firm against oppressive actions such as attacks on Palestine and the United States attack on Iran.
He also said Malaysia's policy on Israel was well received by Malaysians but not by US lawmakers.
"We are a sovereign and independent country. We will not compromise nor allow a single Israeli to set foot in Malaysia," he said.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia is free to determine its foreign policies and does not let others choose who it is friends with.
On Tuesday (July 21), several US lawmakers called on Washington to review security and economic ties with Malaysia following Anwar's remarks on deporting dual citizenship-holding Israeli nationals in the country.
In a joint letter, US Congressmen Greg Landsman, Josh Gottheimer, Jimmy Panetta, Dan Goldman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz, Brad Sherman and Jake Auchincloss urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify steps to be taken in response to Anwar's remarks.
The US Congressmen said Malaysia receives security assistance, including the International Military Education and Training programme, which pays for Malaysian military personnel to receive professional US military training.
Anwar said on July 15 that Malaysia would deport Israeli nationals found to be holding dual citizenship and residing in the country.
This was in response to calls by the Johor government for authorities to investigate Network School, the technology community at Forest City, following claims that Israeli nationals with dual citizenship were living in the area.
