Indonesia turns down Israeli call for ties

An Indonesian minister said on Tuesday the government would not establish official relations with Israel as Indonesia upholds efforts for Palestinian independence, Xinhua reported.

Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung told reporters that the government preferred prioritising the attempts to help Palestine achieve its full independence.

“If (Palestinian) independence can happen, it means our demand is being fulfilled, and so Indonesia certainly is open for considering (the establishment of official ties with Israel),” Pramono said.

“The most important thing is that the spirit to free Palestine is a priority for Indonesia,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called for formal ties with the world’s biggest Muslim-population country, citing both nations had “many opportunities to cooperate in the fields of water and technology.”

The appeal was made during his meeting with a group of Indonesian journalists, who arrived in Israel as guests of the Foreign Ministry.