Relations between Malaysia and Israel have been tense.
By World Israel News Staff
An Emirates flight from Dubai to Singapore carrying a dozen Israelis on board was forced to land unexpectedly in Malaysia, a country with whom Israel does not have diplomatic ties and is considered hostile to Israel.
The forced landing was due to severe weather conditions. During the 5-hour sojourn on the tarmac no passenger left the plane.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director-General Ronen Levy held situational assessments to ensure the safety of the passengers, a statement from the ministry said.
Diplomats from Israel’s embassies in Dubai and Singapore worked with Emirates airlines to safeguard the welfare of every Israeli, the statement added.
Relations between Malaysia and Israel have been tense. Various Malaysian governments have expressed strong pro-Palestinian stances and have criticized Israeli policies and actions.
The two countries do not have embassies in each other’s nations, and Malaysia has implemented some policies that restrict interactions with Israel, such as severe travel restrictions.
Malaysian passports bear the inscription: “This passport is valid for all countries except Israel”. Israeli passport holders are forbidden to enter Malaysia without written permission from the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs.
Last month, a flight heading from the Seychelles to Tel Aviv, carrying 128 Israeli passengers, unexpectedly landed in Saudi Arabia — a country that doesn’t have diplomatic ties with Israel — because of a technical problem.