Indonesia’s president says Israel’s participation in the U20 World Cup will not change Indonesia’s foreign policy.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said Israel’s participation in the Under-20 World Cup will not change his foreign policy after the tournament’s draw was canceled following protests against the Israeli team’s presence in the Muslim-majority country.
Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, underlined Indonesia’s support for Palestine and a two-state solution, adding that Israel’s qualification had been secured long after his country had won host rights.
“I hereby guarantee that Israel’s participation has nothing to do with the consistency of our foreign policy toward Palestine, because our support for Palestine has always been strong and firm,” he said in a livestreamed address on Tuesday.
“Don’t mix sports and politics.”
The two countries have no formal diplomatic relations and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim nation is strong.
Protesters have recently staged marches demanding that Israel be stopped from participating in the 24-team event from May 20 to June 11.
Draw cancelled
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) said on Sunday that this week’s draw for the tournament has been canceled after the governor of the holiday island of Bali refused to host the Israeli team.
Indonesian officials said a rejection by the governor of Bali to host Israel on the Hindu-majority island and calls for the country to be kicked out of the Cup over its policies towards the Palestinians was likely to blame for the cancellation of the lottery.
About a hundred Muslim demonstrators also marched in the capital Jakarta this month to protest Israel’s involvement.
A FIFA spokesman said inspections of the tournament venues had been completed, but did not comment on the PSSI chairman’s meeting or when a draw could take place.
‘Crucial’ tournament for Indonesian football
Widodo’s intervention came as fears grew that Indonesia would face sanctions and isolation on the global football stage if it failed to guarantee Israel’s participation.
Indonesia was suspended for one year by FIFA until May 2016 for government interference.
The Southeast Asian nation is trying to rebuild its reputation after a stampede at a stadium in East Java last year led to the deaths of 135 spectators, many crushed as they fled for exits after police fired tear gas at the crowd.
Muhadjir Effendy, the acting sports minister, said late on Tuesday that a solution must be found and that organizing the tournament was crucial for Indonesian football.
“There are still opportunities,” he said. “FIFA is very grateful, understands what is happening in Indonesia.”
The U-20 tournament would be the first major football competition hosted by the Southeast Asian archipelago.