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Yusril denies Indonesia courting Israeli support for OECD bid
Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra also rejected the use of the term "normalization of ties" considering that Indonesia and Israel never had any diplomatic relations.
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Articulating his point: Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra (left) speaks as Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke listens during a press conference following their meeting on Dec. 3, 2024, in Jakarta. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
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senior minister in the administration of President Prabowo Subianto has denied a report claiming that a meeting took place between Indonesia and Israel last year to explore the possibility of normalizing ties between the two countries in exchange for support for Indonesia to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra also rejected the use of the term "normalization of ties" considering that Indonesia and Israel never had any diplomatic relations.
"There was no such meeting [...] I personally [attended] the OECD meeting in Paris in March 2025 and delivered a speech with the Guatemalan President. There was nothing as has been suggested by the Israeli media," Yusril was quoted by Antara as saying.
The OECD Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann, had reportedly negotiated a commitment from Indonesia to soften its opposition to Israel to assist Indonesia’s entry to the OECD, a grouping of 38 developed nations that includes Israel.
President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday said Indonesia is willing to recognize and open diplomatic relations with Israel if an independent Palestinian state is recognized by Tel Aviv.
Standing alongside visiting French President Emmanuel Macron, Prabowo said Israel's security needs to be guaranteed, and that France would also continue to support steps toward independence for a Palestinian state.
However, Yusril acknowledged that Israel did make an offer to Indonesia about its support for Indonesia's bid for OECD membership in exchange for the country's support for the Jewish state.
The senior minister said Indonesian officials had rebuffed the proposal.
Yusril’s remarks echo Prabowo's pledge to Macron on Wednesday that Israel should first recognize Palestinian statehood before Indonesia would consider opening ties with the Jewish state.
Separately, deputy chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno praised President Prabowo for reiterating Indonesia's commitment for Palestinian independence during his encounter with Macron.
"President Prabowo's statement in front of President Macron and the French delegation is in fact a reassertion of Indonesia's position in rejecting all forms of colonialism and oppression of one country toward another," said Eddy, a politician form the National Mandate Party.
