Indonesia’s government publicly denied on Monday that President Prabowo Subianto will fly to Israel this week, even as multiple Israeli outlets reported he was expected to make a first-ever visit by an Indonesian head of state as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Sugiono told Indonesian media there is “no such plan,” saying Prabowo will return to Jakarta after attending the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Indonesia’s Tempo and other major outlets carried the denial within minutes, underscoring that Jakarta’s position remains unchanged and that the president’s agenda does not include Israel.
The denial directly contradicts reports in Israeli and regional media that preparations were underway for a landmark visit in the coming days. Channel 12’s account (cited by several outlets) and live updates suggested Prabowo could arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday. Hebrew media cited unnamed sources pointing to an imminent trip.
Indonesian outlets reported his “sudden invitation”
Prabowo traveled to Egypt on Monday to join leaders at the Sharm summit, which is focused on consolidating the ceasefire and hostage deal. Southeast Asian and Indonesian outlets reported his “sudden invitation” and arrival in Sharm earlier in the day.
The summit itself has been a moving target for Israeli participation. Reuters reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend, after earlier indications he had been invited with help from former US president Donald Trump; Axios detailed Trump’s role in brokering the invitation before Netanyahu declined, citing the holiday.
Speculation about a Prabowo visit has intensified in recent weeks amid his unusually forward-leaning remarks about Israel’s security needs. In a September address at the United Nations, he said true peace requires recognizing Israel’s right to live in security while also advancing Palestinian statehood. Indonesia’s presidential office publicized those remarks at the time. Jakarta still has no formal ties with Israel.
Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation and has never had diplomatic relations with Israel. A presidential visit would be historic and could signal movement on broader regional normalization efforts, though Indonesia’s domestic politics on the issue remain highly sensitive, as seen in recent controversies over Israeli sports delegations. (