KUALA LUMPUR – Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry has denied news reports that Jakarta will forge diplomatic ties with Israel so as to obtain membership of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Jakarta Globe reported the ministry’s spokesman Lalu Muhamad Iqbal correcting the matter in a text message to reporters yesterday.
“There are no plans to open diplomatic ties with Israel, especially not in the midst of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. Indonesia’s stance has not changed and we consistently remain firm in support of Palestine’s independence within the framework of a two-state solution,” Lalu was reported saying.
Various Israeli media ran reports yesterday that Jakarta was pursuing diplomatic ties with Israel.
The reports cited unnamed sources who said the two countries had been discussing the matter for the last few months, and were shared widely on social media platforms by pro-Israel accounts.
This is the second time Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, has had to deny news reports by Israeli media on plans to normalise relations with Israel.
Earlier last month, Ari Dwipayana, an aide to President Joko Widodo, rejected such speculation, saying “the information is completely incorrect”. – April 12, 2024