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 Indonesia |  Israel |
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Indonesia andIsrael have no formal diplomatic ties due to the indirect tensions resulting from the decades-longIsraeli-Palestinian conflict, although they maintain quiet trade, tourism and, security contacts.[1] In 2012, Indonesia spoke of upgrading relations with Israel and opening a consulate inRamallah,[2] but this agreement was never implemented.
Relations between the two countries have worsened since the 2023Gaza war, especially when Israel attacked and occupied anIndonesian hospital in Gaza. It was reported that this increased Indonesia's support forPalestine.[3] On September 2025, PresidentPrabowo Subianto, declared during a speech at theUNGA "... we must also recognize and guarantee the safety and security of Israel".[4] On 13 October 2025, it was reported that he will visit Israel.[5][6]
As Indonesia is working towards accession to theOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Israeli media reported that Indonesia has committed to establishing diplomatic ties with Israel for the first time.[7] The OECD Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann, confirmed that Indonesia must establish diplomatic relations with all OECD member countries before any decision on its admission to the OECD is made.[8] However, the Indonesian Government denied reports of any plan to develop diplomatic ties with Israel before anytwo-state solution is made and confirmed its support for Palestine's independence.[9]
While not openly opposed to Israel necessarily, Indonesia does not want to provoke the country's conservativeIslamist elements which hold astaunch opposition against Israel.[11]
Indonesia's first president,Sukarno, brushed aside Israeli overtures and eventually adopted a strong support ofArab nationalism as part of his anti-colonialist worldview.[12] A notable incident was the expulsion of Israel and theRepublic of China (Taiwan) from the1962 Asian Games held inJakarta. Because of the pressure from Arab countries and the People's Republic of China, the Indonesian government refused to issue visas for the Israeli and Taiwanese delegations, thus refused the entry of delegations from Israel.[13]
However, with thetransition to the New Order and the installation of GeneralSuharto as president, military and intelligence ties were opened through unofficial channels, especiallyIran andTurkey, in 1968. In 1971, Indonesian and Israeli military officers are believed to have started negotiations on transfer of military hardware and sharing of intelligence on globalCommunist terrorist groups. In November the following year, somecounter-battery radars for accurateartillery fire were bought by the Indonesian military from theIsrael Military Industries. In March 1974, a team of 27 officers and 90 soldiers from theIndonesian Army were sent to study a 2-month course to Israel on artillery radar and land surveillance, as well asELINT andSIGINT from theIsraeli Defence Forces. In January 1975, the Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Air Force sent a 60-man team to Israel to learn special insertion and covert operations fromShayetet 13 and the Israeli Navy. The result was the establishment of a Special Forces Training School to train small units of theKopassus in airborne and seaborne insertion, in November 1975. In August 1976, Indonesian and Israeli Chiefs of Air Staff met during a supposedly coincidental visit toTehran to discuss the Indonesian procurement of 35Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter aircraft from Israel, which were ultimately delivered in 1981–82 underOperation Alpha. Indonesia is also interested in Israeli-made drones, especially theIAI Searcher andIAI Heron drones. Four Searcher UAVs have been delivered through Philippines Kital Group, with Heron UAV still in consideration. Singaporean leasedSearcher drones also assisted theIndonesian army inOperation Tinombala.[14]
In 1993,Prime Minister of IsraelYitzhak Rabin met Indonesian president Suharto at his private residence in Jakarta. This, what press said was Rabin's unscheduled visit, happened during Suharto's chairmanship of theNon-Aligned Movement and shortly after theOslo Accords.[15] This was the first ever high-profile meeting between both leaders.
In 1999, after entering theReformation era, Indonesian presidentAbdurrahman Wahid and Foreign MinisterAlwi Shihab mentioned their wishes to open ties with Israel although only at the level of economic and trade links.[16] Wahid believed that Indonesia has no reason to be against Israel. He pointed to the fact that Indonesia has "long-term relationships" with China and the Soviet Union, two countries he viewed as having atheism as part of their constitutions, and further explained that Israel "has a reputation as a nation with a high regard for God and religion."[17]
However, after Wahid's removal from office in 2001, no effort was maintained to improve the relations between Indonesia and Israel.[12]
In 2005, Indonesia said that establishing full diplomatic ties with Israel will only be possible after peace has been reached between Israel andPalestine.[18] Israeli Foreign MinisterSilvan Shalom held a discreet first meeting with his Indonesian counterpartHassan Wirajuda during a UN summit inNew York City in September 2005.[2] However, President of IndonesiaSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono ruled out establishing formal diplomatic ties but said: "Any communication between Indonesian and Israeli officials will be oriented to the objective of assisting the Palestinian people in gaining their independence".[19]
In 2006, Indonesia and several Islamic groups in the country condemned Israel's ongoing military operation inGaza and demanded the release of arrested Palestinian officials,[20] and also called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon during the2006 Lebanon War. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry advised that the national tennis team was pulling out of itsFed Cup matches in Israel, saying "We are witnessing a military invasion by Israel and the arrest of scores of Palestinian officials...It is now impossible to play there".[21]
In a visit toSingapore in 2006, theIsraeli Arab diplomatAli Yahya called for direct ties between Israel andIndonesia. In an interview withThe Jakarta Post he said,
I misunderstand why the relationship between the majorities of Muslims in Asia is hostile to Israel. If it is because of Israel and Palestine, then (how can it be reconciled that) we have peace with Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, but not with eastern Asia?
We protect the holy places in Israel, respect the Arabic language, and bring imams and rabbis together to have discussions. I am posing a question if the Muslim countries in Asia can open the gate to their country for us, so that we can open up relations with them.
There are so many opportunities in Israel and by stressing the need for cooperation we would like to get these countries to also have a share of these opportunities. But to do that, we need to have the opportunity to talk directly to these countries, which I hope, will come up soon.[22]
In 2008, theJakarta Post printed a letter fromIsraeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,Majalli Wahabi, urging Indonesia to take a role in advocating for peace in theMiddle East. Analysts suggested that the printing of the letter might be a signal of a thaw between the two nations.[23] However, theGaza War that lasted from late 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009 affected relations. Indonesia harshly condemned Israeli actions, labeling it as "aggression", and expressed its support of the Palestinians.
In March 2016,Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu called for normalization of ties with Indonesia, citing "many opportunities for bilateral cooperation" and adding that reasons preventing relationship between the two countries were no longer relevant.[24] However, Indonesia refused, stating that it will only consider normalization if Palestinian independence is fulfilled.[25]
In 2018, member of Presidential Advisory CouncilYahya Cholil Staquf visited Israel to meetBenjamin Netanyahu and joined a Jewish Forum, which was responded negatively by the Indonesian public.[26]
In 2023, Israeli Olympic shooterSergy Rikhter withdrew from international competition inJakarta after theInternational Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) refused to allow him to compete with any symbols representing Rikhter's home country ofIsrael.[27][28] In order to qualify for the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, athletes are required to have participated in at least two ISSF Championships during the Qualifying period, reach a Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS), and secure a place in one of five quotas within a series of four World Cup meets,of which Jakarta is the first in this cycle.[29][30] Richter won gold forShooting at the 2019 European Games in 10 metre air rifle and competed in TokyoShooting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's 10 metre air rifle.[27][28] Reportedly, World Cup organizers informed Richter and the Israeli federation they would only allow him to participate with his weapon if he competes with identification symbols of the ISSF or the flag of the International Olympic Committee. Richter rebuffed the ISSF and chose not to compete in the World Cup, in part stating,
I will never accept to participate in a competition without the [IOC Country Code] ISR on my competition suit, on my personal rifle and on the results screen...I start the most important year on the way to Paris, when my opponents take a professional advantage over me due to political problems. If the Olympic movement, which advocates the existence of sports without distinctions of nationality, religion, race and sex, does not support its ideology, then what is its value? I don't understand how the state is allowed to organize some sort of competition with a national identity restriction.[28]
On 29 March 2023,FIFA announced that Indonesia wouldlose its right to host the2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and a new country be selected instead. This is because of controversy over Israel's participation in the competition in Indonesia, which does not officially recognize Israel as asovereign state.[31]
Following theOctober 7 attacks, Indonesiacondemned Israel's bombing campaign against the Gaza strip. Specifically,Foreign MinisterRetno Marsudi issued the "harshest of condemnations" towards Israel's assault on theIndonesian Hospital in Gaza.As part of a delegation ofOIC countries, agreed to during anemergency session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Marsudi visitedChina andRussia, bothPermanent Members of the UNSC, in an effort to garner support for aceasefire.[32][33][34] InMoscow, Marsudi stated that Israel's claim ofself-defensive action, through its combinedair- and ground assault, is inexcusable; "Israel, acolonialist, cannot use such an excuse" [sic ]. Marsudi iterates that, even if it were a valid excuse, self-defensive action is not "a licence tokill civilian"[sic]. She states that the intention of the OIC delegation is to formulatepeace through the implementation of thetwo-state solution.[35][36]
UN Security Council held an open debate on the Gaza war in New York on 23 January 2024.Indonesian Foreign MinisterRetno Marsudi left the room when Israel's Permanent Representative to the UNGilad Erdan spoke to the organization's security agency.[37]
TheUN Security Council held an open debate on the Gaza war in New York on Tuesday local time. In Erdan's turn, Retno—along with other members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OKI)—decided to walk out.[37] "Minister Retno and the heads of delegations from other countries left the room when Israel's permanent representative gave his statement," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Iqbal, Thursday.[37] However, Erdan was also not present when Indonesia and otherOIC members delivered their statements, according to so.[37] In her speech, Retno criticized IsraeliPrime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's recent statement that he would not allow aPalestinian state to exist.[37] "Indonesia strongly rejects this statement," said Retno in theUNSC debate.[37] “This statement is unacceptable. This confirms Israel's ultimate goal of erasing Palestine from the world map. Will the council remain silent in the face of such intentions?” said Retno.[37]
According to Retno, Israel must be held accountable forits atrocities inGaza.[37]
In June 2024,President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia for the period 2024–2029, Prabowo Subianto, expressed his support for the two-state solution to resolve the Palestinian conflict.[38] And was ready to send peacekeeping troops to theGaza region. Prabowo made this statement at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 forum inSingapore.[39] Responding to Prabowo's statement, theTNI stated that it was ready to implement it. Head of the TNI Information Center,Major General Nugraha Gumilar, ensured that TNI soldiers were ready to carry out peace operations under theUnited Nations (UN) wherever there was an order from the state.[39] "For Indonesia, the pursuit of peace, security, stability and prosperity is the main foundation of our international engagement. We believe that only through dialogue and cooperation can we achieve these goals," said Prabowo.[39]
He considers collaboration to be the only way to create prosperity and harmony in the world. Therefore, he ensured that Indonesia was strongly committed to inviting various countries to collaborate and establish dialogue in achieving common interests.[39] Prabowo also ensured that the Indonesian government would also encourage the world to uphold international law, especially in the aspect of respecting each country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity as mandated by the UN Charter.[39] He also highlighted specifically the conflict in Gaza. In particular,Israel's actions in attacking civilians who were taking refuge inRafah. According to him, this action must be immediately investigated because it has victimized children, women and unarmed citizens.[39] "This heartbreaking incident encourages us to immediately call for a thorough investigation into this humanitarian disaster," stressed Prabowo.[39] "We believe that along with many other countries in the world today, the only real solution for lasting peace and security for Israel and Palestine is a two-state solution," he said.[39]
On May 28, 2025, during a conversation with French PresidentEmmanuel Macron in Jakarta, Indonesian PresidentPrabowo Subianto once again expressed that he would be willing to establish diplomatic relations withIsrael if the country acknowledged the Palestinian state.[40]
On 31 July 2025, Indonesia signed the New York Declaration backed byFrance andSaudi Arabia in the UN Headquarters inNew York, supporting Hamas relinquishing its rule over Gaza, the return of all Israeli hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and support to thetwo-state solution.[41]
On 13 October 2025, it was announced that the Indonesian President, Prabowo Subianto, was scheduled to make his first official visit to Israel the following day.[42]
In 2008, Indonesia signed a medical cooperation agreement with Israel's national emergency medical service worth US$200,000.[43]
According to the report fromThe Times of Israel in 2012, Indonesia agreed to informally upgrade its relations with Israel and to open a consulate inRamallah, headed by a diplomat with the rank of ambassador, who also would have unofficially served as his country's ambassador for contacts with Israel. The move, which had been agreed upon after five years of sensitive deliberations, would have represented ade facto upgrading of relations between the two countries. Indonesia had formally presented the move to open a West Bank consulate as a demonstration of its support for Palestinian independence. In fact, while the ambassador-ranked diplomat was supposed to be accredited to thePalestinian Authority orPalestine Liberation Organization, a significant portion of his work would have been in dealings with Israel, and the office would have fulfilled substantial diplomatic duties as well as consular responsibilities.[44] After Israel denied the Indonesian foreign minister entry to Ramallah in 2012, Indonesia backed out from the agreement and the consulate in Ramallah was not opened. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, Israel and Indonesia quietly maintain trade, security and other relations which, however have been quietly deteriorating ever since theMiddle East Peace Process has been stalled.[45]
Indonesian exports to Israel was valued at $187 million as of 2022, with palm oil being highest valued product. Meanwhile, Israeli exports to Indonesia stood at $68.5 million as of 2022.[46] The Economist reported that Indonesia purchased Israeli tech and weaponry, and before theGaza war, carried out secret talks with Israel that would see trade offices established in both countries.[47]
In May 2024, a joint investigation byHaaretz,Amnesty International, andTempo, reported that Indonesia imported spying and surveillance technologies from Israel.[48] Amnesty's reported that the technology is "highly invasive spyware tools are designed to be covert and to leave minimal traces...this built-in secrecy can make it exceedingly difficult to detect cases of unlawful misuse of these tools against civil society, and risks creating impunity-by-design for rights violations."[49]
Israeli citizens are eligible forvisas to Indonesia for single entry group tourist travel and single entry business travel. For Indonesians, touristvisas to Israel are only available for group travel through travel agencies.[2] In May 2018, Indonesia barred Israeli passport holders from entering the country, which Israel reciprocated,[50] although not for all types of visas.[51] A month later, both countries reversed their tourism bans.[52]
In 2018, 35.3 thousand Indonesian tourists visited Israel. A year later, there were 38.7 thousand Indonesians who visited Israel.[53]
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