COMMENT | It is a given that Malaysia has long positioned itself as a vociferous advocate of Palestinian rights, condemning Israel’s barbarity and savagery against Palestinians, including women and children.

As Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly denounced Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, it seems that Malaysia’s policy on Israel vis-à-vis the protection of basic human rights of Palestinians will never change.

Despite being a small nation, Malaysia is invariably seen to be ready and willing to take a firm moral stance on Israeli brutality. And that is absolutely admirable.

In fact, at the recent Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held in Doha, Anwar not only harshly condemned the recent illegal Israeli airstrike in Doha, but he also highlighted the ongoing humanitarian plight and suffering in Gaza.

Under such circumstances, Anwar’s readiness to invite US President Donald Trump to attend the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in late October is rather startling.