Israel-Indonesia relations

Indonesian Christian pilgrims sing before a baptismal ceremony in Jordan river at the Yardenit baptismal site in Israel, March 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

June 27, 2018, 11:12 am

Israel reverses ban on Indonesian tourists after officials protest

Foreign Ministry hails 'good news,' as Jakarta also said to lift restrictions slapped on Israeli visitors over Gaza deaths last month

By Michael Bachner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Sheikh Yahya Cholil Staquf, leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, at his Jerusalem office, June 14, 2018 (Haim Zach, GPO)

June 15, 2018, 6:28 am

Netanyahu unexpectedly meets with Indonesian Muslim leader

Yahya Staquf, who heads world’s largest Muslim organization, says he wants to promote ties with Jerusalem, but stresses he came to affirm 'Palestine's sovereignty'

By AP

Yahya Staquf, secretary general of the 60 million member Nahdlatul Ulama poses for a photograph, overlooking Jerusalem, June 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Caron Craighton)

June 12, 2018, 2:52 pm

In Israel, top Indonesian cleric calls for ‘compassion’ between Muslims and Jews

Yahya Staquf, who heads world’s largest Muslim organization, says he wants to promote ties with Jerusalem, but stresses he came to affirm 'Palestine's sovereignty'

By Raphael Ahren

June 12, 2018, 12:32 am

Visiting Israel, Indonesian Muslim leader risks backlash at home

Yahya Staquf calls for 'new discourse' between faiths as he meets with academics and religious leaders; critics say his trip is tantamount to recognizing Israel

By CARON CREIGHTON

Indonesian priests baptize Christian pilgrims in the Jordan river at Yardenit baptismal site in Israel, March 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

June 8, 2018, 1:46 am

Officials urge reversal of ‘harmful’ ban on Indonesian tourists visiting Israel

Tourism industry warns of 'insufferable financial consequences' from tit-for-tat response to Jakarta's moratorium on issuing visas to Israelis in protest of Gaza killings

By Michael Bachner

Hebrew teacher Sapri Sale (center, with white shirt) with his students in Jakarta, February 2018 (Conny Dwirani)

March 13, 2018, 1:15 am

Muslim man opens first-ever Hebrew course in Indonesia

While some criticize effort to promote language, Sapri Sale's previously published Hebrew-Indonesian dictionary received endorsement from senior imam

By Raphael Ahren

Protesters shout slogans during a rally outside US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

December 11, 2017, 12:53 pm

Indonesians burn Israeli, US flags in 4th day of Jerusalem protests

Activists rally outside US embassy over Trump's recognition of capital, wave banners reading, 'We are with the Palestinians'

By AP and TOI staff

Muslim men hold posters during a rally against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital outside the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

December 10, 2017, 5:47 pm

Thousands of Indonesians rally at US embassy over Jerusalem

Protesters slam Trump's 'humiliation and provocation' in cities throughout country with largest Muslim population

By AP and TOI staff

Protestors clash with Lebanese security forces during a demonstration outside the US embassy in Awkar, on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on December 10, 2017 (AFP/ANWAR AMRO)

December 10, 2017, 12:07 pm

Anti-Trump protesters try to break into US embassy in Beirut

Police use tear gas to disperse protest; in Indonesia, 10,000 rally against US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital

By Agencies and TOI staff

Palestinian youths take part in a protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City, December 7, 2017. (MOHAMMED ABED/AFP)

December 7, 2017, 11:21 am

Turkish president: Trump’s Jerusalem decision puts region in ‘ring of fire’

Erdogan says US president's announcement about Israeli capital will not make peace but will stir things up, causing 'a ring of fire'

By TOI staff and Agencies

The flight trajectory of El Al Flight ELY33 from Singapore to Sydney, carrying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 22, 2017, showing a detour of some 2.5 hours to avoid Indonesian airspace. (Screenshot: FlightAware)

February 23, 2017, 10:17 pm

Netanyahu took 2-hour detour to avoid Indonesia en route to Australia

PM arrived in Sydney after 11 hours in the air from Singapore, a journey that usually lasts 8.5 hours

By TOI staff

Illustrative: a Passover seder held in Indonesia on April 22 2016. (Screen capture Channel 10)

April 23, 2016, 11:25 pm

Indonesia Jews host Muslim clerics, US diplomat at Seder

50 community members in world's largest Muslim country gather for festive meal; US deputy secretary of state is guest of honor

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a visiting delegation of Indonesian journalists at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on March 28, 2016. (Haim Tzach, GPO)

April 1, 2016, 11:18 am

Indonesia rebuffs Netanyahu call for normalized ties

Jakarta says its 'support and efforts to push for the independence of Palestine will not change'

By TOI staff

March 28, 2016, 6:21 pm

Netanyahu calls for normalizing ties with Indonesia

PM tells visiting Indonesian journalists establishing a diplomatic link with world's largest Muslim country would open up vast trade opportunities

By Tamar Pileggi

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, July 21, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

March 16, 2016, 5:58 pm

Deputy FM reveals Israel has secret diplomatic ties with Indonesia

Tzipi Hotovely confirms Jakarta's top diplomat was prevented from entering Ramallah because she refused to also meet Israeli officials

By Raoul Wootliff