Israeli sources said that “progress” had occurred, in the past few days, in the “path of normalization” between Israel and “the largest Islamic country in the world, Indonesia,” and that the latter “is on its way to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.”

This is what was stated in a report published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, today, Thursday, noting that “after three months of secret negotiations between the two countries and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an agreement was reached under which Indonesia pledges to normalize its relationship with Israel. In exchange for the latter removing its opposition to Indonesia’s membership in the organization.”

The Israeli source says that the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Matthias Corman, “reassured the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yisrael Katz, in a letter about two weeks ago (Indonesia is aware of its wording, according to the source), that any future decision to say that Indonesia will join the organization will require... The approval of all members of the organization, including Israel.”

In turn, the newspaper continues, “The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, congratulated Corman on this breakthrough, and expressed, in his response letter, that he shared his hopes that this would be considered a positive change in Indonesia’s policies towards Israel, leading to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two parties.”

Indonesia rejects normalization

It should be noted that Indonesian Vice President, Ma'ruf Amin, had confirmed in his statements during his visit to New Zealand, in the middle of last month, that his country "will not establish any diplomatic relationship with Israel before achieving any comprehensive settlement that guarantees the Palestinians an independent state."

Amin described Israel as “the largest prison in the world for the Palestinian people,” and stated that his country “has not changed its position on the Palestinian issue since the Asia-Africa Conference held in Indonesia in 1955,” noting that “there are countries that have normalized their relations with Israel, and want to influence Indonesia’s position.” To take the same position,” but he said, “Indonesia is firm in its position of rejecting that.”