Indonesia and the Palestinian Cause
During his inaugural presidential speech on October 20, 2024, Indonesia’s incumbent president, Prabowo Subianto, iterated certain principles central to the philosophical foundation of the Indonesian nation. He noted Indonesia’s longstanding foreign policy of non-alignment or “bebas dan aktif” (free and active) and its aversion to military pacts.
Key Takeaways
- Indonesia's support for the Palestinian cause can be traced back to the founding principles of both Indonesian nationhood and foreign policy under Sukarno (1945- 1967).
- Authoritarian leader Suharto (1967-1998) adopted a policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding Israel.
- Since the country's democratic transition, successive governments have maintained a strong pro-Palestinian rhetoric, even though relations with Israel have varied.
- Incumbent president, Prabowo Subianto (2024-), might seek to normalize relations with Israel in a bid to join the OECD. Such a move, however, could prove politically costly given the Indonesian public's overwhelming support for Palestine.
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Indonesia and the Palestinian Cause
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