Indonesia may soon normalize ties with Israel in exchange for its approval to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), reports Ynet.
OECD member states are primarily high-income countries regarded as developed countries. In order for Indonesia to gain acceptance, it will require the consensus of all 38 OECD members. Israel has made it clear that it would not vote in favor if the largest Muslim country in the world didn’t first recognize the Jewish State.
The OECD has already related Israel’s demand to Indonesia, to which the latter has already agreed, according to the report.
“I am pleased to announce the Council has officially agreed to the clear and explicit early conditions according to which Indonesia must establish diplomatic relations with all OECD member countries before any decision is made to admit it to the OECD,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann wrote in a letter to Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
In response, Katz wrote “I share your expectation that this process will constitute a change for Indonesia, as I anticipate a positive change in its policy toward Israel, especially abandoning its hostile policy toward it, leading the path to full diplomatic relations between all sides.”
For years, there have been speculations about potential normalization between the countries. However, Indonesia has consistently refused to normalize relations until the establishment of a Palestinian state.
