Indonesia Denies Plans for Diplomatic Ties with Israel, Calls Foreign Media Reports False
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana has categorically refuted recent reports circulating in foreign media claiming that Indonesia is considering establishing official diplomatic relations with Israel. Dwipayana, in a statement issued on Thursday (February 29), labeled the information as completely incorrect.
His response came in reaction to an article published by jewishinsider.com, which suggested that Indonesia was contemplating diplomatic ties with Israel. Dwipayana clarified that President Joko Widodo had not dispatched any special envoy for discussions with Israel.
Regarding foreign affairs policy, Dwipayana emphasized that President Jokowi entrusts such matters solely to the foreign affairs minister, and no other individuals represent the president officially in these matters.
“The president’s official stance is represented by the statements and positions articulated by the foreign minister,” Dwipayana reiterated.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi recently addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging action against the reported human rights violations by Israel against Palestinians. At the High-Level Segment of the 55th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 26, Minister Marsudi called attention to the suspension of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ongoing financial support for actions in Gaza, which she referred to as war crimes.
In a similar vein, on January 25, Minister Marsudi walked out of the UN Security Council (UNSC) open debate concerning Palestine while Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, delivered a speech. During the meeting, Marsudi expressed Indonesia’s strong rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state post-war.
“Indonesia strongly rejects this statement. This statement is unacceptable. This confirmed Israel’s ultimate goal to wipe Palestine from the world map,” Minister Marsudi emphasized during the UNSC meeting.
