Indonesia–Israel relations
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Indonesia–Israel relations refers to the historical and current bilateral relationship between Israel and Indonesia. The two countries maintain no formal diplomatic ties,[1][2][3] although they maintain quiet trade, tourism and security contacts. In 2012, Indonesia agreed to informally upgrade its relations with Israel and to open a consulate in Ramallah, headed by a diplomat with the rank of ambassador, who will also unofficially serve as his country’s ambassador for contacts with Israel.[4]
According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 70% of Indonesians view Israeli's influence negatively, with only 12% expressing a positive view, one of the most negative perception of Israel in Asia.[5]
History
In the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta, President Sukarno refused the entry of delegations from Israel.[citation needed]
In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met Indonesian President Suharto at his private residence in Jakarta. This, what press said was Rabin's unscheduled visit, happened during Suharto's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and shortly after the Oslo Accords. This was the first ever high profile meeting between both leaders.[6]
In 1999, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab mentioned their wishes to open ties with Israel although only at the level of economic and trade links.[7] In 2002, Wahid explained his respect for Israel and posed a challenging "correction" to be addressed by his fellow Muslims:
Israel believes in God. While we have a diplomatic relationship and recognising diplomatically China and Russia, which are atheist states, then it's strange that we don't acknowledge Israel. This is the thing that we have to correct within Islam.[8]
In 2005, the Indonesian Government said that establishing full diplomatic ties with Israel will only be possible after peace has been reached between Israel and the Palestinians.[9] Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom held a discreet first meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda during a UN summit in New York in September 2005. However, President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ruled out establishing formal diplomatic ties but said: "Any communication between Indonesian and Israeli officials will be oriented to the objective of assisting the Palestinian people in gaining their independence".[3]
In July 2006, the Indonesian Government and several Indonesian Muslim groups condemned Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza and demanded the release of arrested Palestinian officials.[2]
In a visit to Singapore in 2006, the Israeli Arab diplomat Ali Yahya called for direct ties between Israel and Indonesia. In an interview with the Jakarta Post he said,I misunderstand why the relationship between the majorities of Muslims in Asia is hostile to Israel. If it is because of Israel and Palestine, then (how can it be reconciled that) we have peace with Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, but not with eastern Asia?We protect the holy places in Israel, respect the Arabic language, and bring imams and rabbis together to have discussions. I am posing a question if the Muslim countries in Asia can open the gate to their country for us, so that we can open up relations with them.
There are so many opportunities in Israel and by stressing the need for cooperation we would like to get these countries to also have a share of these opportunities. But to do that, we need to have the opportunity to talk directly to these countries, which I hope, will come up soon.[10]
During the 2006 Lebanon War, Indonesia called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry advised that the national tennis team was pulling out of its Fed Cup matches in Israel saying "We are witnessing a military invasion by Israel and the arrest of scores of Palestinian officials...It is now impossible to play there".[11]
In 2008, the Jakarta Post printed a letter from Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Majalli Wahabi, urging Indonesia to take a role in advocating for peace in the Middle East. Analysts suggested that the printing of the letter might be a signal of a thaw between the two nations.[12] However, the Gaza War that lasted from late December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009 affected relations. Indonesia harshly condemned Israeli action, labeling it as "aggression", and expressed its support of the Palestinians.
Agreements
In 2008, Indonesia signed a medical cooperation agreement with Israel's national emergency medical service with USD200,000.[1]
In 2012, Indonesia agreed to informally upgrade its relations with Israel and to open a consulate in Ramallah, headed by a diplomat with the rank of ambassador, who also would have unofficially served as his country’s ambassador for contacts with Israel. The move, which had been agreed upon after five years of sensitive deliberations, would have represented a de facto upgrading of relations between Israel and the world’s most populous Muslim country. Indonesia had formally presented the move to open a West Bank consulate as a demonstration of its support for Palestinian independence. In fact, while the ambassador-ranked diplomat was supposed to be accredited to the Palestinian Authority/PLO, a significant portion of his work would have been in dealings with Israel, and the office would have fulfilled substantial diplomatic duties as well as consular responsibilities. After Israel denied Indonesian foreign minister entry to Ramallah in 2012, Indonesia backed out from the agreement and the consulate in Ramallah was not opened. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, Israel and Indonesia quietly maintain trade, security and other relations which however have been quietly deteriorating ever since the Middle East Peace Process has been stalled.
Travel visas
As it has been for many years, Israeli citizens still can only get visas to Indonesia for single entry business travel.
For Indonesians, tourist visas to Israel are only available for group travel through travel agencies. In recent years between 11,000 and 15,000 Indonesians have visited Israel yearly as pilgrims. [4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/11/07/representatives-indonesia-israel-sign-medical-agreement.html?1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/07/03/indonesia-condemns-israeli-offensive.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Indonesia rules out diplomatic ties with Israel, reaffirms pro-Palestine stand - Forbes.com
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.timesofisrael.com/indonesia-to-informally-upgrade-its-relations-with-israel-via-ambassador-ranked-diplomat-in-ramallah/
- ↑ 2013 World Service Poll BBC
- ↑ Abstracts: Non-aligned and useful: Rabin meets Suharto in surprise stopover. Succession talk recedes: Suharto could lead into the 21st century - Business, international
- ↑ http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/1999/11/20/controversy-over-indonesiaisrael-relations.html
- ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s551141.htm
- ↑ Indonesia-Israel ties said "possible" The Jakarta Post website, Jakarta - September 20, 2005
- ↑ Diplomat says Israel open to direct ties with Indonesia. BBC Monitoring International Reports| January 27, 2006 , Source: The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, in English 26 Jan 2006
- ↑ USATODAY.com - Indonesia pulls out of Fed Cup tennis in Israel to protest Gaza
- ↑ "Israeli-Indonesian Entree", Dateline World Jewry, World Jewish Congress, July/August 2008
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