Abraham Accords and the Palestinian State: Jakarta’s moves for peace in the Middle East

The Indonesian president has welcomed his French counterpart on an official visit. Prabowo opens to normalising ties with Israel, but ties it to the establishment of a recognised Palestinian entity. A shared hope for a “just and lasting” solution in the region.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesia’s possible inclusion among the countries party to the Abraham Accords, and the resulting normalisation of relations with Israel, provided the backdrop for a meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who is on an official visit. During the summit, held yesterday in the capital, President Prabowo confirmed his intention to establish official ties – on the condition that a Palestinian entity, recognised by the State of Israel, is established.

The prospect of potential normalisation between Indonesia and Israel has surfaced several times in recent years. In 2023, for instance, Israeli media outlet Ynet reported on “informal talks” between the two countries regarding a possible normalisation agreement. At that time, the Israeli government appeared willing to lift its opposition to Jakarta’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in exchange for progress in formal diplomatic relations.

Previously, Israel had blocked Indonesia’s OECD membership application, citing the lack of official ties. US outlet Jewish Insider also reported that then-President Joko Widodo and former Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had agreed on a framework draft for “normalisation”. However, the agreement was never finalised or made public, with its timing reportedly linked to a possible visit by President Jokowi to the White House at the end of 2023.

Nevertheless, Indonesia’s presidential palace (Merdeka Palace) denied any such plans. Ari Dwipayana, presidential chief of staff, stated that “the reports from foreign media are entirely false”. Then-Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also firmly rejected the idea of normalising ties with the Israeli state, reaffirming Jakarta’s unwavering support for Palestinian independence. “From time to time, there are voices saying that now is the time for normalisation. But for us,” said Retno in April 2024, “our position is clear, as I have repeatedly stated.”

Returning to the present, and the meeting in Jakarta yesterday, President Subianto reiterated that Jakarta is prepared to establish diplomatic relations with Israel – provided it first recognises the Palestinian state. The announcement was made during a joint press conference with Macron at the conclusion of the bilateral meeting between Jakarta and Paris, much of which focused on the ongoing conflict.

As part of broader diplomatic efforts by Paris (and Riyadh) in the Middle East, a meeting is scheduled for Sunday 1 June in Ramallah, West Bank, between Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders and foreign ministers from several Arab countries. Attending will be foreign ministers from Riyadh, Amman, Cairo, Doha, Manama, and Muscat, among others. According to sources cited by the Times of Israel (ToI), the visit is part of preparations for a conference in the United States next month, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at advancing the two-state solution and the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.

At the same time, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s long-standing support for the two-state solution as the only viable path to peace. “One of the key topics in my discussion with President Macron was France’s commitment to promoting a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Prabowo. “France,” added the former special forces commander, “has in turn reaffirmed its support for full recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.” He emphasised that a two-state solution with recognised sovereignty is the only path to a “just and lasting” peace. At the same time, he concluded, “I also stress that we must recognise Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state and ensure its security.”

In a significant diplomatic development, Prabowo stated that Indonesia – the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation – is ready to recognise Israel, on the condition that Israel in turn recognises the State of Palestine. Prabowo also affirmed Jakarta’s willingness to contribute to peacekeeping efforts in the region. Finally, he confirmed Indonesia’s participation in a high-level summit proposed by France and Saudi Arabia in June in New York, aimed at revitalising the two-state solution and advancing peace efforts in the Middle East.