VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied a report that an Indonesian delegation led by "a senior official" visited Israel as part of efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.

As the custodian of Indonesia's foreign policy, the Finance Ministry has never taken steps pointing to the normalization of relations, as reported by the Israeli media, the ministry's spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, said during an online press conference.

"The Indonesian position remains unchanged, that we prioritize a peaceful solution between Palestine and Israel based on the two-state solution to achieve peace with clear territorial borders," he said.

Indonesia's stand on the Palestine-Israel conflict remains unchanged, he said, adding that the "senior official" referred to by the Israeli media could not represent Indonesia's interests.

The Jerusalem Post reported earlier that Indonesia sent a secret delegation, led by a "senior official," to Israel amidst the recent tense relations between the two countries.

The newspaper said a series of meetings and reports in recent months in 2021 suggested that relations between Israel and Indonesia have grown closer, in terms of trade and tourism.

It also said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the possibility of Indonesia and Israel normalizing diplomatic ties, during a meeting with officials in Jakarta in December last year. (Antaranews)