MUI Responds to the Arrival of the Israeli National Team at the Indonesian U20 PD

CNN Indonesia

Tuesday, 14 Mar 2023 09:06 WIB

Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —

Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) The center highlights the question of how to play it Israeli national team in Indonesia as one of the finalists for the U-20 Soccer World Cup on 20 May-11 June 2023.

According to him, this will be a problem for society because Israel is still considered as occupier for Palestine.

“[Kehadiran timnas Israel dan rombongan pendukungnya] This is a very sensitive matter in the wider community, especially in Indonesia, because it concerns the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people which has lasted for a long time to this day,” said MUI Chairman for Foreign Relations Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim in a written statement quoted on Tuesday (14 /3).

He also reminded that the Indonesian government and state are firmly committed not to open diplomatic relations with Israel as long as the issue of Palestinian occupation has not been resolved.

“This has been emphasized by President Jokowi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the MUI supports this firm stance,” he said.

Sudarnoto reminded that this firm attitude of not opening diplomatic relations with Israel must be maintained by Indonesia and guarded wholeheartedly as long as the Jewish State continues to colonize the Palestinian nation.

“There should not be the slightest loophole for any reason to betray the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution and undermine the president’s commitment so as to open space for Israel to enter Indonesia through any means, including the U-20 soccer world cup,” he said.

Therefore, he encouraged all institutions and parties without exception to unite to protect the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, the president’s commitment, and the honor or dignity of the Indonesian Nation and State wholeheartedly.

“The Indonesian people must appear bold and firm in rejecting the presence of the Israeli group entering Indonesian territory for the U-20 soccer world cup,” he said.

In addition, Sudarnoto said that if the Israeli national team and their entourage of supporters continued to attend the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, there would be a big risk of causing uproar and even conflict among the people which would undermine Indonesia’s unity.

“Before it’s too late, the government should reconsider its decision to accept and provide security guarantees for the Israeli national team. Protect this republic from certain forces that are trying to oppose society through the U-20 soccer world cup event,” he said.

“Don’t let it be too late, the problem will become more tangled because of the government’s unaccommodative attitude,” he continued.

The Government and PSSI Must Follow President Sukarno’s Example

Not without reason, his party suggested rejecting Israel’s presence in the world sporting event held in Indonesia. That, he said, had been exemplified by the first president of the Republic of Indonesia who was also a proclaimer, Sukarno in the past.

“The government and high-ranking officials, including PSSI, should follow the example of President Sukarno, who was firm and courageous in rejecting the presence of the Israeli contingent at the 1962 Asian Games, because Israel was an occupier. Even though it had to leave the IOC, with this refusal, Indonesia at that time actually gained a political position. that counts internationally,” he said.

“On the contrary, accepting and even ‘providing security guarantees’ to the Israeli national team for the U-20 world cup actually shows that Indonesia, through this football diplomacy, has been subdued by pro-Israel forces. Is Indonesia that weak?” he continued.

Read the next page, PSSI’s response and government preparations