Indonesia Reaffirms Support for Palestine Amid Prabowo's Billboard Appearance in Israeli Campaign
Indonesia has reiterated its unwavering support for Palestinian statehood following the appearance of President Prabowo Subianto in billboard advertisements in Tel Aviv promoting a peace plan to end the war in Gaza, an initiative initially proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Indonesia's Stance on Israel and Palestine
In a statement issued on Sept 29, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry clarified that any shift in Indonesia's official position towards Israel hinges on Israel's recognition of Palestinian independence and sovereignty. "Indonesia's position is very clear that there will be no recognition or normalisation with Israel, whether through the Abraham Accords or any other platform, unless Israel first recognises an independent and sovereign Palestinian state," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang.
The Billboard Advertisement Controversy
The ministry's statement followed the circulation of images online depicting billboard advertisements showcasing world leaders, including Mr. Prabowo, Mr. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and leaders from other Middle Eastern nations. The advertisement carried messages such as "Mr President, Israel stands by your plan. Seal the deal" and "Israel says yes to Trump plan. Get it done."
The photos were initially posted on social media platform X by the Abrahamic Shield of the Coalition for Regional Security, an Israeli initiative composed of security, policy, and economic experts. The group urged the Israeli government to endorse Mr. Trump's peace proposal between Israel and Palestine, describing it as "a serious and responsible path to turn Israel’s military gains into a strategic diplomatic through and create a new reality in Gaza, without Hamas." They also advocated for the expansion of the Abraham Accords, a Trump-led deal in 2020 aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and some Middle Eastern countries.
Prabowo's Address at the UN General Assembly
Indonesia's stance on the Middle East conflict was recently articulated by Mr. Prabowo during his addresses at several UN General Assembly meetings in the US. During a meeting co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, Prabowo stressed that ending the war in Gaza, which the UN recently labeled as genocide, must be a global priority. He also reiterated the importance of a two-state solution, guaranteeing Palestinian statehood. He stated that Indonesia would immediately recognize Israel upon Israel's recognition of Palestinian independence and support security guarantees for Israel.
Netanyahu's Remarks and Trump's Involvement
In a separate speech on Sept 26, Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged Mr. Prabowo's address, while expressing reservations about the two-state solution. "I took note, as I’m sure you did too, of the encouraging words spoken here by the President of Indonesia," Netanyahu stated. He further suggested that cooperation with Israel could provide access to advanced technologies.
On the sidelines of the UN meetings, Mr. Trump hosted a meeting with leaders and officials from various Muslim-majority countries, including Indonesia, to discuss resolving the hostage situation and ending the war. Foreign ministers from attending countries issued a joint statement on Sept 29, expressing support for Mr. Trump's leadership and efforts to end the war in Gaza.
Key Proposals for Peace
- No displacement of Palestinians.
- A security mechanism guaranteeing safety for both sides.
- Israeli withdrawal.
- A two-state solution, with Gaza fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state, in accordance with international law.
Following a meeting with Mr. Trump at the White House on Sept 29, Mr. Netanyahu stated his support for the plan to end the war in Gaza, believing it would achieve Israel's war aims and advance regional peace.
