The Indonesian Ulama Council calls on the government to protect consumers from Israeli products
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Ulama Council on Tuesday called on the government to protect consumers from products linked to Israel as imports surged despite the lack of diplomatic relations between Jakarta and Tel Aviv.
Indonesia has been among the most vocal countries calling for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestine and an end to international military support and arms sales to Tel Aviv, especially since the start of Israel's deadly invasion of Gaza.
Campaigns calling for boycotts of companies with direct or perceived ties to Israeli institutions have also been regular occurrences in the country, where many people see Palestinian statehood as mandated by their constitution.
In this context, many were shocked when the latest data from the country's Central Statistics Agency showed growing economic ties with Israel, with imports to Indonesia rising to more than $35 million between January and May.
Although the amount is not significant in Indonesia's total trade volume, it is almost four times higher than the US$8.85 million recorded in the same period in 2023 and surpasses last year's total of US$21.9 million. Official data also showed that exports to Israel from Indonesia reached more than $66 million.
The growing volume of trade made national headlines earlier this month, prompting calls for the government to act.
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on trade-related matters and the Ministry of Commerce did not respond to questions about trade relations with Israel, the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, which is the country's top religious body, said trade ties “must be stopped”.
MUI's president of foreign relations, Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, told Arab News that the government must protect Indonesian consumers under existing laws.
“We have the Consumer Protection Act, so the government should follow it to protect consumers from Israeli products, whatever they are,” he said.
A few weeks after the start of Israel's invasion, the MUI issued a fatwa, or religious decree, prohibiting Indonesian Muslims from buying products that had anything to do with Israel.
“Any trade will certainly bring profits, and regardless of the value of our import from Israel, of course there are profits involved. This financial gain is what could play an important role in funding Israel's main programs right now,” Hakim said. “Since Israel's current main agenda is to end Palestine, let's not support that.”
Israel's ground and air strikes over the past nine months have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to official estimates, although a study published in the journal Lancet earlier this month estimated the actual death toll could be as high as 186,000. .
“The existence of trade relations, especially their growth, leaves room for Israel to try other channels of relations with Indonesia, and that is dangerous. It will weaken Indonesia's spirit in defending Palestine.”
Indonesian civil society members also called on the government to end trade relations with Israel.
“To me, this is a hypocritical double standard. On the one hand, the government condemns the Zionist genocide and calls for a ceasefire, but continues trade relations on the other hand,” Muhammad Anshorullah of the Jakarta-based Aqsa Working Group told Arab News.
“I urge the government … to also take firm steps … to stop trade ties with Zionist Israel.”
Cecep Jasim, who led a thousands-strong march for Gaza in West Java last November, said trade ties with Israel contradicted Indonesia's position on Palestine.
“We demand a halt to all commercial activities with Israel… The government must firmly refuse any kind of relations with Zionist Israel so that Indonesia is not seen as having a foot in both camps for its own gain,” he said.
The Indonesian chapter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which calls for economic and trade pressure in opposition to Israel, has also protested Indonesia-Israel trade ties.
“BDS rejects Indonesia's trade relations with Israel in all its forms, that much is clear. We demand that the Ministry of Commerce put an end to this… As for the increasing volume, this is extremely unfortunate, especially as it is happening in the midst of an ongoing genocide, such an increase should not be happening and needs to be corrected ,” BDS Indonesia head Muhammad Syauqi Hafiz told Arab News.
“Indonesia should not be satisfied with its existing position, it is not enough. There needs to be more, an escalation of policy to also try to stop Israel, not just defend Palestine. This is how it should be if Indonesia is sincere in its commitments.”
Media Wahyu Askar, director of public policy at the Center for Economic and Law Studies, said Indonesia is not dependent on Israeli products and can find substitutes from other countries.
“The government should seriously consider calls to boycott products affiliated with Israel and even products from Israel, as such calls for boycotts are extremely effective in pressuring the private sector to stop doing business with Israel,” he told Arab News, adding that “it would not have any significant negative impact on the Indonesian economy.”
Indonesia's imports from January to May 2024 were worth about $91 billion, meaning imports from Israel – most of which were through third countries – accounted for less than 0.05%.
But for Israel, Indonesia has “strategic value,” Askar said.
“In the next few years, it is expected that Israel will continue to find ways to influence Indonesia's political economy and normalize trade relations to gain global influence,” he said.
