Indonesia president gave tepid okay for Israel visit but got cold feet once plan was leaked — source

By Jacob Magid

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13 October 2025, 5:03 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Indonesia's president Prabowo Subianto puts his hands together as he finishes his address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly with the word 'shalom,' September 23, 2025, at UN headquarters in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto had given an initial green light to interlocutors that he would make a historic visit Israel on Monday. However, he was very concerned about domestic pushback over the move and ultimately backed out once the plan was leaked to the press, a source familiar with the matter tells The Times of Israel.

The source says Jakarta is now trying to save face by having its Foreign Ministry deny reports of Subianto’s planned trip, while claiming that one had never even been planned.