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Why does Indonesia’s largest nationalist party want Israel out of U-20?
While anti-Israel rallies by Islamist groups are not uncommon on the streets of Jakarta, usually held following violent incidents against Palestinians in the Middle East, it may appear odd that the strongest, if not the most consequential, opposition to hosting the Israeli team at the U-20 is not coming from Islamists, but from their nationalist rivals.
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FIFA delegation members visit Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali, on March 27, 2023. The visit was conducted by FIFA to inspect the readiness of the stadium as one of the venues for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup soccer matches in May. ( Antara/Fikri Yusuf)
I
ndonesia is on the brink of international embarrassment after Bali Governor I Wayan Koster insisted that the U-20 soccer World Cup draw be held somewhere else because he did not want an Israeli team on the resort island, forcing FIFA to cancel the event.
For casual observers of Indonesian politics, the statement made by the Bali governor may seem strangely out of place: Bali is a predominantly Hindu province and is certainly not the traditional base for conservative Muslims, many of whom are opposed to the state of Israel for both ideological and religious reasons.
The governor is also a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the nation’s largest party and which has long been seen as one of the most “liberal” parties in Indonesia for its tough stance against sectarian politics. However, Koster is not an outlier among the PDI-P’s ranks. Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, a potential presidential candidate from the PDI-P, has also made similar calls.
Thus, while anti-Israel rallies by Islamist groups are not uncommon on the streets of Jakarta, usually held following violent incidents against Palestinians in the Middle East, it may appear odd that the strongest, if not the most consequential, opposition to hosting the Israeli team at the U-20 is not coming from Islamists, but from their nationalist rivals.
So why does the PDI-P want Israel out of the U-20?
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