Israel has banned Malay officials from crossing its border and access the occupied Palestinian territories in apparent retaliation for anti-occupation remarks made by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed.

#Israel ?? has refused to grant officials from #Malaysia?? access to Ramallah in light of the Malaysian PM’s #antisemitic statements, @LahavHarkov reports.https://t.co/WS13iEhp2o

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) December 2, 2019

Maan reported the Israeli Foreign Minister saying that the Malaysian diplomats would not be allowed to enter Israel or the occupied West Bank.

“Malaysia is a state headed by an anti-Semitic leader,” a senior official said, according to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

After Malaysia's pledge to open a Palestinian embassy, israel bans its diplomats from being able to visit occupied Palestinian territories #BDS https://t.co/VH57hcFbNj

— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) December 4, 2019

In late October, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed announced that his country is to open an accredited embassy to Palestine.

(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)