TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that there is no attempt to normalize diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel. Israel's participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia sparked a political debate until the draw for the youth football championship was canceled.

"I assure you that bilateral ties [with Israel] will not happen," Bagus Hendraning Kobarsyih, the ministry’s Director for Middle East Affairs said via text message to Tempo, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Earlier this month, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen reportedly sought to normalize relations with Mauritania, Somalia, Niger, and Indonesia, in a bid to expand the Abraham Accords – a deal that normalizes relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020.

After the deal was signed in 2020, Indonesia was mentioned as the next possibility to join the agreement. A U.S.-based news site Al Monitor reported that Blinken raised the issue when meeting with Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta in 2021.

"While the two countries do not maintain diplomatic ties, trade ties are substantial. An Israeli trade delegation visited Indonesia last July to explore the potential of bilateral relations through investments, start-ups, and social impact initiatives," the report said.

However, Bagus emphasized that Indonesia would never even explore possible relations with Israel. "Indonesia will not recognize the existence of Israel until Palestine gets its independence in accordance with the applicable international parameters," Bagus said.

The International Football Federation or FIFA officially canceled the draw for the 2023 U-20 World Cup which was scheduled to take place in Bali on March 31 following the protest against Israel's participation.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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