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Jokowi says no foreign policy change in hosting Israel for U-20 World Cup
Jokowi confirmed he had sent Erick Thohir, a cabinet minister and former Inter Milan chairman who heads the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), to talk to soccer's world governing body FIFA after the draw for next month's tournament was cancelled over opposition to Israel taking part.
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This handout picture taken on September 20, 2019 and released by the Presidential Palace shows Indonesia's President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (left) with Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno (right) as he announces a delay in passing a new law that would outlaw gay and pre-marital sex at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. (AFP/Presidential Palace)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Tuesday that Israel's participation in the Under-20 World Cup to be hosted by Indonesia meant no change to its foreign policy, stressing amid domestic protests that sport and politics should not be mixed.
Jokowi confirmed he had sent Erick Thohir, a cabinet minister and former Inter Milan chairman who heads the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), to talk to soccer's world governing body FIFA after the draw for next month's tournament was cancelled over opposition to Israel taking part.
Jokowi underlined Indonesia's support for Palestine and a two-state solution and said Israel's qualification was secured long after his country won hosting rights.
"I hereby guarantee Israel's participation has nothing to do with the consistency of our foreign policy position toward Palestine, because our support for Palestine is always strong and sturdy," he said in a livestreamed address.
"Do not mix matters of sports and politics."
Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and protesters have recently held marches demanding Israel be stopped from competing in the 24-team event from May 20-June 11.
Draw Cancelled
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