Foreign Ministry Comments on Potential Indonesia-Israel Diplomatic Ties

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed President Prabowo Subianto's recent statement that Indonesia is open to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, provided Palestine achieves independence. The President made this statement during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on May 28, 2025.

The ministry's spokesperson Rolliansyah Soemirat, also known as Roy, clarified that Prabowo's statement is not a new stance. "Indonesia's position has always been clear: the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel will only occur when Israel recognizes Palestine," Roy affirmed in a written statement to Tempo via WhatsApp on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Indonesia and Israel currently do not have diplomatic relations. Indonesia consistently maintains a firm stance in support of Palestine and does not recognize Israel.

The topic of normalizing relations between Indonesia and Israel first gained attention in 2023. At that time, Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that the Israeli government and Indonesia had been discussing normalizing relations for three months.

According to Ynet, Israel would stop its efforts to block Indonesia's membership in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), often called the "club of rich countries," in exchange for formal relations between the two nations.

Previously, Israel had indeed blocked Indonesia's OECD membership efforts due to the lack of diplomatic ties.

Jewish Insider also reported on the issue of normalizing relations between Indonesia and Israel. That media outlet claimed that then-President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and Eli Cohen, who was Israel's Foreign Minister at the time, had approved the final draft of an agreement to normalize relations as a first step toward full diplomatic ties, according to sources.

It was reportedly planned that Israel and Indonesia would announce the normalization of relations in October 2023, depending on Jokowi's schedule for a visit to the White House in Washington D.C., United States.

However, at the time, President's Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana clarified that foreign media reports suggesting Indonesia had plans for official friendly relations with Israel were incorrect. "The information provided is completely false," Ari said in a brief message to Antara in Jakarta on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Furthermore, then-Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reiterated Indonesia's rejection of normalizing relations with Israel. She emphasized that Indonesia's position remained unchanged and that the country would continue to support Palestinian independence.

"From time to time, there are always parties who say it is time for Indonesia to normalize. For us, our position is clear as I have stated," Retno said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Nabiila Azzahra, Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor’s Choice: Prabowo: Indonesia-Israel Ties Possible If Palestinian Statehood Acknowledged

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