Is Indonesia going to normalize ties with Israel?

Channel “I24” reported that “after three months of secret talks, Israel and Indonesia, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, reached an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries,” noting that “the agreement comes as part of efforts to facilitate Indonesia’s accession to the organization, which includes 38 member states.”

According to “I24,” the council officially confirmed Indonesia’s membership conditions in a letter from Matthias Korman, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the Economic Field, to Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz, emphasizing the necessity for Indonesia to maintain diplomatic relations with all members of the organization before any decision to accept it as a member.

It was also noted that “the agreement also requires unanimous approval from all member states, including Israel, for Indonesia’s accession.”

Katz welcomed this breakthrough, expressing his expectation of positive improvements in relations between the two countries, including allowing Indonesia to begin the process of joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Sources involved in the process conveyed that “Indonesia was seeking to join the organization, but it required unanimous consent from all member states, as relationships between all member states are required.”

On the other hand, the organization requested Israel not to oppose Indonesia’s accession, but due to Indonesia’s previous stance against Israel, Minister Katz asked Indonesia to make a gesture towards Israel confirming its sincerity in normalizing relations.

After a series of negotiations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Indonesia agreed to the condition that before the final vote and Indonesia’s accession to the organization, Indonesia must establish diplomatic relations with Israel, as reported by “I24.”

Indonesia Replies

Jakarta has denied the reports in Israeli media, saying that there are currently “no plans” to normalize with Israel.

“Regarding the issue of opening diplomatic relations with Israel, I emphasize that there are currently no plans to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, especially amid Israel’s atrocities in Gaza at present,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said late on 11 April.

The official added that Indonesia’s process of joining the OECD “will take quite a long time,” and that the roadmap to obtain membership “would be adopted in May.”

Indonesia’s relations with Israel have historically been strained and characterized by a lack of formal diplomatic ties despite decades of covert trade cooperation. Since 1993, Indonesia has hosted Israeli authorities several times, and in 2018 began issuing visas to Israeli tourists.

Nevertheless, as a predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia has taken a strong stance in support of the Palestinian cause and has refrained from officially recognizing Israel as a sovereign state. Indonesians have also held massive rallies in support of Palestine and repudiating Israel since 7 October.

In January, Jakarta filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and has also backed South Africa’s genocide case at The Hague.