Behind the scenes of this surprising announcement by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto: Israel Hayom has learned from diplomatic sources Wednesday that French President Emmanuel Macron has been urging Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state, suggesting that such moves could prompt Muslim-majority nations to formally recognize Israel in return.
This is the backdrop to Prabowo's unexpected statement following his meeting with Macron earlier today. It is worth noting that the possibility of Indonesia recognizing Israel had been under serious discussion in Jakarta before the Hamas-led invasion of Israel in October 2023.
Macron, whose domestic political agenda is severely constrained by ongoing internal crises, has been channeling much of his energy into international affairs. In recent weeks, he has been actively working to persuade world leaders to attend a summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia under UN auspices, scheduled to take place next month in New York. The event is being promoted under the banner "A New Vision for the Middle East."
Following his meeting with Macron, Prabowo said that Indonesia is prepared to establish diplomatic relations with Israel – if Israel recognizes a Palestinian state.
"Indonesia must acknowledge Israel's right to sovereignty among the nations, and we must respect its right to self-defense and its legitimate security needs," Prabowo said.
