Alternative Perspective: A Diplomatic Relations with Israel.
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Indonesia has been one of the very vocal countries on promoting the independence of the State of Palestine and condemns Israel for what happened in the conflict. This particular act of Indonesia government mainly assumed due to the fact that Indonesia is the largest Muslim population in the world. Nevertheless, it also because of Palestine (then Palestine Mandate) through its Great Mufti supported and recognized Indonesia’s on the early time of its Independence.
On the account of the escalation and the intifada, Indonesia has been keen on helping Palestine through aids and political campaign to support its independence. Although this kind of support is not only given by Indonesia but also many countries in the world, it still gains less than the expectation. Palestine still hasn’t got its independence, and the conflict is unchanging without any truce from both parties. Even twenty five years after the Oslo accords.
So Why Things Don’t Work Out?
The Main assumption would become: Israel is backed by the United States. Well, it isn’t totally wrong. Because yes United States, which is the broker of the famous Israel-Palestine’s Oslo Accords is now seems openly taking sides over Israel. This become evident after Trump, in his speech clearly stated that United States will relocate their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Which clearly violates United Nation’s Resolution 181 and 194 as part of UN Partition Plan, regarding Jerusalem as corpus separatum (despite the Partition Plan itself, already considered as failure).
Nowadays, we can also see that countries over the world tend to be biased over Palestine. In Indonesia itself, public opinions are so biased against Israel. Israel is always identified as bad. But is it true? Regarding the protracted conflict, it doesn’t really matter who is wrong or right. What matter is how this conflict should be solved.
However, if Indonesia and any other countries who support Palestine are against Israel. What chance do we have to achieve the desired peace? Do a simple math on your own. Why would Israel want to sign a peace treaty with Palestine? Shy would Israel should listen to the pressure given by country such as Indonesia? Well, your simple math will answer that. In order to make Israel listen to such countries and concern about the conflict settlement. We ought to put ourselves in their trust domain.
Before asking how to achieve that trust domain, we need to ask a crucial thing, what to expect from the future settlement upon this conflict?
In my opinion, the very possible option is Two State Solution.
But how can we achieve two state solution and trust domain?
Trough Diplomatic Relations.
In order to achieve the two state solutions, there must be two state in the first place. We all know that Israel already has its independence, while Palestine is working for its. Yet to achieve this, we also need to make peace with both parties and have a talk on both direction.
Yet, countries who support Palestine independence and condemns Israel, tend to refuse to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. It’s because diplomatic relations establishment means the country is recognizing Israel as a sovereign country. And considered as contradictory with the goal of gaining Palestine its independence. Yet, as i mentioned before, we ought to see from rather a different perspective. Through diplomatic relations, Indonesia can have a formal talks with Israel regarding the conflict. Diplomatic relations puts Indonesia in a position where it can talk and interact with Israel to agree on muatually beneficial cooperative agreements and resolve disputes and disagreements in a way that avoids violence and considers the interests of both parties, to find a solution that both (or all) sides can agree on. In this case, the settlement of Israel-Palestine conflict.
But this is obviously not an easy decision.
As a proof, recently, social media in Indonesia was uproared by a public opinion regarding Gus Yahya visit in Israel. Gus Yahya or Yahya Cholil Staquf is a famous figure of Nahdlatul Ulama in Indonesia. Gus Yahya is known to attend the American Jewish Commitee (AJC) Global Forum which held in 10–13 June 2018. He later also known for having an interview with an Israeli journalist, Talia Dekel. This interview were later uploaded as a podcast, as it is below.
The uproar regarding the visit is an evidence of a premature refusal upon the idea of having a “talk” with Israel. This idea isn’t trully new, for it was already proposed in Abdurahman Wahid presidency. At least in his presidency, he initiated to formalize Indonesia relations with Israel.
But why this very idea could cause an uproar and generate a mass refusal?
Nevermind about the teaching of who is wrong or right in this conflict and the anti-semitism as Indonesia is the largest Muslim country. So the answer will be Political pragmatism. Indonesia is less likely affected with the diplomatic ties with Israel. But what about the backfire of such decision? Indonesia itself is so dependent with the Arab League country, and as the Arab countries refuse to establish a diplomatic ties with Israel, Indonesia decisions to do so will jeopardize the relations with its Muslim and Arab countries.
Nonetheless, regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, this idea is likely possible. Establishing a diplomatic relations with Israel doesn’t mean Indonesia is taking sides on the conflict. The goal remains the same, to support the independence of Palestine. And this diplomatic relations is a path towards it. So we have to put away a logical fallacy about the binary things, that if Palestine is the victim, then Israel is wrong. And if you support Palestine, diplomatic ties with Israel is unacceptable. After all this idea shouldn’t be mistaken as taking sides to Israel and abandoned the Palestine.
Let’s just take a look on this very idea, and have a moment considering this idea as a possibilities of achieving a settlement upon the conflict through this alternative perspective.
Thank You
