Indonesia denies plans to open diplomatic relations with Israel for OECD membership

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) has denied a report by the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, which stated that Indonesia would normalize diplomatic relations with Israel as a condition for becoming a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“I emphasize that up to now, there are no plans to open diplomatic relations with Israel, especially amidst the situation of Israeli atrocities in Gaza,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lalu Muhamad Iqbal to the Antara news agency, Thursday evening (11 April).

Then emphasized that Indonesia’s position has not changed and remains solid in supporting Palestinian independence in the context of a two-state solution.

“Indonesia will always be consistent and be at the forefront of defending the rights of the Palestinian people,” he added.

Regarding Indonesia’s membership in the OECD, Lalu said that the process would take quite a long time.

He said some countries took three to five years to become members.

“When Indonesia will be accepted as a full member of the OECD is still uncertain,” he said.

The road map for Indonesia’s membership in the OECD is planned to be adopted next May and Indonesia has to prepare many things.

The palace previously denied that Israel and Indonesia planned to announce the normalization of diplomatic relations in October 2023. However, this step was delayed due to the war in Gaza, Palestine.

“The information conveyed by the Jewish Insider media is completely untrue,” said Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana.

ISRAEL’S CLAIM

Previously, a number of leading Israeli newspapers reported that Indonesia had agreed to normalize relations with Israel as a condition for joining the OECD.

Three months of secret negotiations between Jakarta, Tel Aviv and OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann formed the basis of this agreement.

Indonesia agreed to include a provision stating that Indonesia must open diplomatic relations with Israel before its membership is approved by the organization.

“I am pleased to announce that the Council has officially agreed to a clear and firm initial condition that Indonesia must have diplomatic relations with all OECD member countries before a decision is made to admit Indonesia as a member of the OECD,” Cormann wrote in a letter published two weeks ago to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. State of Israel Israel Katz.

In a reply letter sent by Katz to Cormann on Wednesday (April 10), he welcomed the breakthrough.

“I also hope that this process will be a change for Indonesia, I anticipate positive changes in its policy towards Israel, especially in ending previous hostilities, and paving the way towards full diplomatic relations between the two countries.”

According to an unnamed Israeli official, the normalization of relations between Indonesia and Israel is something significant in the midst of high anti-Israel sentiment due to its military attack on the Gaza Strip.

Normalizing relations will end Israel’s rejection of Indonesia’s membership in the OECD.

Israel refused to allow Indonesia to join for a number of reasons, starting from the two countries not having formal relations, Indonesia’s outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and Indonesia’s support for South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The OECD is an international economic organization that was formed to support the development and economic growth of its member countries.

The addition of a new country to the organization requires unanimous approval from all 38 member countries, including Israel.

Indonesia is the first country in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia to achieve this status open for accession discussion to become a full member of the OECD.

It is believed that OECD membership will have a positive effect on the Indonesian economy because it can increase investment from OECD countries by up to 0.37 percent and increase Gross Domestic Product by up to 0.94 percent.