World’s largest Muslim country open to recognizing Israel – on one condition

President Prabowo Subianto says ties with Israel depend on mutual recognition and a two-state peace deal, as France pushes new diplomatic initiatives.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

Indonesia is prepared to recognize Israel and establish diplomatic relations – if Israel first acknowledges an independent Palestinian state, President Prabowo Subianto announced on Wednesday during a joint press conference with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron.

Subianto, leader of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, called the two-state solution “the only path to true peace,” adding that Israel’s right to exist and its security must also be guaranteed, according to the Israeli news site Ynet.

“Once Israel recognizes Palestine as an independent state, we will be ready to recognize Israel and establish diplomatic relations,” Subianto said in Jakarta.

“Freedom for Palestine and peace for Israel must go hand in hand.”

Macron echoed the Indonesian leader’s remarks, pledging continued French support for a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He emphasized that “there are no double standards” in France’s Middle East policy and reaffirmed backing for both Israeli security and Palestinian independence.

The remarks come ahead of two international conferences next month, which France will lead.

The first, to be held in Paris from June 12 to 14, will focus on peace, security, and the two-state solution.

The second, set for June 17 to 20 at the UN headquarters in New York, will be co-hosted with Saudi Arabia and aims to renew global momentum for Palestinian statehood and reciprocal recognition between Israel and Arab nations.

While it remains unclear whether the New York conference will yield formal diplomatic shifts, Western diplomats suggest that Macron is leaning toward recognizing a Palestinian state – a move that could further strain relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Recent months have seen heightened tensions between France and Israel, particularly after Macron accused Netanyahu of enacting policies that have left “half a million people facing hunger” – comments that drew fierce backlash from Jerusalem.

Indonesia, meanwhile, has signaled its growing humanitarian role in the conflict.

Earlier this year, Subianto offered to accept around 1,000 injured Gazans, including children and orphans, for medical treatment.

He also floated the idea of sending an Indonesian peacekeeping force to Gaza if a ceasefire were reached.

Despite behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement – Ynet reported last year that Indonesia and Israel had discussed normalization in exchange for Indonesia’s OECD membership bid – domestic opposition remains strong.

Massive protests have erupted in Jakarta during the war in Gaza, with demonstrators accusing Israel of war crimes and displaying effigies of Netanyahu with devil horns.

Still, Wednesday’s announcement marks the most public signal yet that Indonesia may be open to a future relationship with Israel – contingent on mutual recognition and meaningful progress toward peace.