 "Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Source: Reuters.")
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Wednesday (May 28) he would establish diplomatic relations with Israel if it recognises an independent Palestinian state, following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, currently has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and has long supported a two-state solution to resolve the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“On various occasions, I have said that Indonesia sees the two-state solution and the freedom of Palestine as the only way to achieve true peace,” Subianto told reporters at a joint news conference.
He added, “I also emphasised that we must acknowledge and guarantee Israel’s rights as a sovereign country that must be respected and its security ensured.”
“Indonesia has stated that once Israel recognises Palestine, Indonesia is ready to recognise Israel and open diplomatic relations,” Subianto said.
In a joint statement, Indonesia and France urged renewed progress toward mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinians. The two countries will co-chair an international conference next month in Paris aimed at revitalizing efforts toward a two-state solution.
“The conference should restore a political prospect for a peaceful settlement of this conflict, paving the way for an irreversible path towards the realization of a Palestinian state and mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine,” the statement said.
Support for Palestinian statehood remains strong in Indonesia, frequently leading to public demonstrations. In 2023, FIFA revoked Indonesia’s hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup after influential Indonesian politicians demanded Israel’s exclusion from the tournament and refused to accommodate its team.
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