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View all search resultsWhy Indonesia should normalize ties with Israel
Jakarta has long championed the Palestinian cause and has been critical of Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians.
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N
aftali Bennett traveled to Bahrain this week in the first official visit by an Israeli prime minister to the Gulf monarchy. The Abraham Accords—the landmark agreements normalizing relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors—have made sights like this routine in the new Middle East.
There is talk Indonesia could soon hop on the bandwagon. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Indonesia’s possibly joining the Abraham Accords with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during his visit last December. Yet Jakarta is still against the idea, and few think it will change its mind anytime soon.
This is a shame. Indonesia has much to gain and little to lose by embracing Israel as other Muslim nations have done.
Take the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One of the original signatories to the Abraham Accords in 2020, it has reaped nothing but rewards. UAE-Israel trade amounted to almost US$500 million last year, and Dubai and Jerusalem are moving forward with free trade deal negotiations. The two countries just this month signed tourism and healthcare agreements that will expand cooperation in those sectors.
Elsewhere they have dramatically stepped up security cooperation, including the prospective sale of Israeli air defense systems, to meet the Iran threat. The Emiratis are richer and safer now that they’re working with the Israelis.
Similar benefits await Indonesia. Commercial interests are prominent among them. Bilateral trade, which is already in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars annually, will increase significantly if Jakarta and Jerusalem establish relations. Expect Israel to export more high-tech commodities to Indonesia and Indonesia to export more agricultural products and industrial goods to Israel. Indonesia will be better off by trading more with Jerusalem, and vice versa.
Investment is another area that has great potential. With diplomatic hurdles out of their way, Israeli firms would be keen to tap Indonesia’s massive market. Israel has invested significantly in other Asian countries like India and would do the same in Indonesia.
