An Israeli couple detained and questioned in Bali, Indonesia, have been safely rescued with the help of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Ynet reported on Tuesday, citing officials.
The couple, A. and S. were running luxury tropical villas, and managed popular Instagram accounts about their travels and business (which have since been made private). Both served in the IDF and had pictures of themselves in uniform on their social media.
“We’re currently looking into it. A team is already on the ground and conducting operations,” Indonesia's Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, announced during an address at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 7, 2025. No more official details have been released.
Ynet, however, said that the couple were harassed due to their Israeli identity and were ultimately summoned for questioning on suspicion of violating their work visas. An Israeli official warned Israelis to avoid uploading photos of their military service to their social media, especially in Muslim-majority countries.
According to Indonesian media, S. entered with a German passport and was on an Investor KITAS visa valid until March 2026. Multiple Indonesian reports say that this resulted in authorities believing he concealed his identity as an Israeli.
The Jakarta Post added that news of the two Israelis' business activities in Bali has been circulating on social media over the past month, leading to widespread scrutiny and public criticism online, as well as protests.
Indonesia's complex relationship with Israelis
Indonesia - a Muslim-majority country - has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli passport holders cannot legally enter Indonesia without special permission. It is not technically illegal for Israelis to do business in Indonesia, but entering under a false nationality or using another country’s passport to conceal Israeli identity can lead to legal complications, Jakarta Globe reported.
Indonesian media reported on a recent immigration sweep in Bali that has resulted in the detention of 100 or so foreign nationals.
The Jerusalem Post reached out to the couple and Israel's Foreign Ministry for comment. For the purposes of this article, names have been redacted to ensure the privacy of those involved.