Malaysia played host to a group of Israeli diplomats this week attending a UN conference in Kuala Lumpur, which is kind of a big deal, as Israeli passport holders are normally not allowed to enter the country.
David Roet, an Israeli diplomat, who is the country’s former Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, tweeted about his ground-breaking visit in our country.
He wrote that he was “proud to have led Israel’s official delegation,” and that it was a “unique experience.”
Roet added that there were “many similarities” between the two countries, although we’re not sure he was referring to the fact that neither is officially allowed to travel as tourists in each other’s countries.
One thing is certain, according to Roet: Malaysians love using the navigation app Waze, which was developed by an Israeli company. It’s a start, but an uphill battle.
The two countries have had no official diplomatic relations since Malaysia’s independence, despite the fact that Israel supported Malaysia’s bid for UN membership, and had previously tried to establish low-level diplomacy between the two.
Just like turning down that Tinder date you’re not really into, and that your friends don’t like, Malaysia told Israel “thanks, but no thanks.”
A temporary glastnost between the two in the early 90s was followed by positively ice-age levels of chilly relations, with then-Prime Minister Mahathir accusing Israeli Zionist agents of undermining Malaysia’s integrity, Islam, and also our currency.
The diplomats were here as part of a 185-country-strong delegation, hosted by the United Nations Human Settlements Program. Malaysia is required to grant visas to all of those in the delegation.
However, some Twitter users remained hopeful, writing that they too shared Roet’s sentiments that the two countries could work together in the future.
Remember when we let in that Israeli boxer to do reality TV here? Hey – slim chance at better relations is still a chance, ammirite?!
And on this note, we leave you with our favorite Bruno clip, where Sacha Baron Cohen reminds us that no matter whether you’re Israel, or Hamas, you can agree on one thing — hummus is delicious.
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