Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto declared Indonesia's willingness to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, provided Israel recognizes an independent Palestinian state. This marks a potential shift for the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Prabowo Subianto, speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta, stressed ensuring Israel's security alongside Palestinian independence. Macron endorsed efforts toward a Palestinian state.
Indonesia, which does not currently recognize Israel, could see a major foreign policy change under Prabowo Subianto's leadership.
Prabowo made the comments alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who reiterated his support for a two-state resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict during a speech in Indonesia, just days after Israel Hayom revealed France could recognize "Palestine" as early as June, when it convenes a conference on the current conflict.
According to Reuters, Macron is increasingly inclined to recognize a Palestinian state, a step that could strain relations with Israel and highlight divisions among Western allies. Macron has been highly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days over his prosecution of the Gaza war. What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is unacceptable… There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in. What he is doing is shameful," Macron told TF1, triggering an angry response from Israel, which accused him of siding with Hamas.
Reuters noted that Macron emphasized, "Only a political solution will make it possible to restore peace and build for the long term." Macron's conference, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, will be a Gaza-focused event in New York to advance recognition of both a Palestinian state and Israel's right to peace and security.
