Africa-Press – Lesotho. Asenior aide to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued a statement rejecting speculation that Indonesia plans to open bilateral relations with Israel.
Coordinator of President Jokowi’s special aides Ari Dwipayana said in a statement issued late last week that no deal had been struck between Indonesia and Israel on the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“The information is completely incorrect,” Ari said in a statement quoted by Antara.
Ari was referring to a dispatch published by the Israeli newspaper Jewish Insider published on Feb. 28 that Israel and Indonesia had planned to announce the establishment of diplomatic relations in October 2023, a move that was delayed by the Hamas terror attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza.
In an article titled “Israel, Indonesia were on track to normalize ties before Oct. 7: sources”, the news outlet claims that Israel’s then-foreign minister Eli Cohen and President Jokowi’s office approved a final draft of an agreement for the Jewish state and Indonesia to exchange trade offices, as a first step toward full diplomatic relations.
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