TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Photos circulating on social media shared by Ismail Fahmi on his X account @ismailfahm allegedly show five Nahdliyin or Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) members meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The photo shared by Ismail was a screenshot of @zenmaarif Instagram account where the entourage met Herzog at the Israeli President's palace to discuss the “Hamas-Israel conflict” and relations between Indonesia and Israel.

The upload sparked widespread criticism, including several figures.

PBNU talks of possible dismission

PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, confirmed that the five individuals, including Zainul Maarif and Munawir Aziz, would be summoned for questioning.

“They will be summoned for questioning regarding their purposes, background, parties who sent them, and other principal matters,” Gus Ipul said in a statement on Monday, July 15.

He stressed that PBNU did not authorize the meeting. Therefore, if NU regulations are violated, these five members could be dismissed from their administrative positions within the organization.

The meeting between NU members and President Herzog, he went on, was unwise amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine. Moreover, it contradicted NU's stance of condemning Israeli continuous attacks on Gaza.

He also said PBNU would summon leaders of the NU autonomous body where these five members serve. They are expected to take responsibility for their members' actions.

President Jokowi reaffirmed Indonesia’s position on the conflict

President Joko Widodo or Jokowi refused to comment much about the meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. "Just ask PBNU,” said President Jokowi before departing for the United Arab Emirates from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

However, President Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict is clear, as per the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. "Indonesia will always participate toward establishing a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace, and social justice. That’s what we will strive to uphold,” Jokowi said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the meeting between the five NU members with President Herzog. The ministry said the visit was not related to the official position of the Indonesian government on the conflict.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not in a position to comment regarding this visit, which is not related in any way with the official position of the Indonesian Government," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Roy Soemirat in a text to journalists on Monday, July 15, 2024.

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An Indonesian Islamic organization lamented the meeting between the Israeli president and NU members

The Islamic organization of Ahlulbait Indonesia (ABI) said the meeting disregarded the support and struggle towards Palestinian independence.

The General Chair of ABI, Habib Zahir bin Yahya, said making peace and holding dialogues with a colonial entity makes no sense as the genocide and land grabs committed by Israel have gone beyond the limits of humanity.

"Claiming to represent Islam while visiting Israel hurts the feelings of Muslims and liberated nations worldwide. While Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria are struggling to liberate Palestine from colonialism, they (NU members) came to Israel for peace, it’s deplorable,” said Zahir in an online press conference in Jakarta, on Monday, July 15, 2024, as quoted by Antara.

Zahir said not even Middle Eastern countries with diplomatic ties with Israel have been able to prevent Israel’s barbarism, let alone a handful of ignorant youths.

The Chair of ABI also asked the Indonesian government to reject the normalization offer with Israel which was tantamount to betrayal of the Constitution. He asked the entire nation to be wary of the existence of some individuals who are pushing to establish economic relations with Israel for personal gain. Zahir hopes that the government will take firm action against these individuals.

NU University to hold an ethics trial against Zainul Maarif

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulama University (Unusia) will hold an ethics trial for one of its lecturers, Zainul Maarif, one of the five people meeting with President Herzog.

"Unusia will hold an ethics trial against Zainul Maarif to account for his activities," said the Head of the Public Relations Bureau of Unusia Dwi Putri in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Dwi said the visit directly impacted Unusia's reputation and was contrary to the values adhered to by the university. Dwi emphasized the university fully supports Palestinian independence and strongly condemns Israel's genocide in Gaza. She also noted that the visit had absolutely nothing to do with Unusia as a higher education institution in Indonesia.

HENDRIK YAPUTRA | NABIILA AZZAHRA | ANTARA | DANIEL A. FAJRI

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