Indonesia ready to normalize ties with Israel as part of bid to join OECD – officialThe Times of Israel by Joshua Davidovich 11 April 2024
Head of economic forum said to broker deal that could see world’s largest Muslim nation establish relationship in exchange for Jerusalem smoothing way into developed countries clubIndonesia could normalize ties with Israel as part of a deal to smooth the entry of the world’s most populous Muslim nation into a global forum for developed countries, an Israeli official said Thursday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report in Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth detailing months of hush-hush talks between Jerusalem, Jakarta, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.
Normalization would mark a stunning about-face for Indonesia at a time when anti-Israel sentiment in the Muslim world is running higher than it has in years due to the war in the Gaza Strip.
But establishing ties would also spell an end to Israeli opposition to Indonesia joining the OECD, according to the report.
The OECD began the process of adding Jakarta to the 38-nation forum in February, but Israel had reportedly objected to its accession due to the lack of diplomatic relations. Countries must receive unanimous support to join the bloc, which is dedicated to advancing economic growth via neo-liberal fiscal policies.
Cormann initially secured a promise from Indonesia to shift its critical stance toward Israel, but Foreign Minister Israel Katz balked at pulling Jerusalem’s opposition, saying normalization would be needed, Yedioth reported.
More:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/indonesia-agrees-to-normalize-ties-with-israel-if-it-joins-oecd-report/