Indonesian Ulama Council Urges Government to Protect Consumers from Israeli Products
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Ulama Council on Tuesday urged the government to protect consumers from products linked to Israel as imports are on the rise despite the lack of diplomatic relations between Jakarta and Tel Aviv.
Indonesia has been one of the most vocal in demanding an end to Israel's occupation of Palestine and an end to international military aid and arms sales to Tel Aviv, especially since Israel invaded Gaza.
Campaigns calling for boycotts of companies with direct or perceived ties to Israeli institutions also occur regularly in the country, and many believe that Palestine should be granted statehood under a constitution.
In this context, many were shocked to hear that economic ties with Israel are growing, with imports from Indonesia exceeding $35 million from January to May, according to recent data from the country's Central Statistics Agency.
The figure is not a significant proportion of Indonesia’s overall trade, but it is almost four times higher than the $8.85 million recorded in the same period in 2023 and surpasses last year’s total of $21.9 million. Exports from Indonesia to Israel exceeded $66 million through May, according to official data.
News reports of the increased trade volumes made national news earlier this month, prompting calls for the government to take action.
The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on trade-related matters and the Trade Ministry did not respond to questions about commercial ties with Israel, but Indonesia's top religious body, the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), said trade links “must be stopped.”
Dr. Sudarnotto Abdul Hakim, chairman of MUI's foreign relations committee, told Arab News that the government must protect Indonesian consumers in accordance with existing laws.
“We have consumer protection laws, so the government should follow them and protect consumers from Israeli products, any products,” he said.
Weeks after the Israeli invasion began, MUI issued a fatwa, or religious decree, banning Indonesian Muslims from purchasing products with ties to Israel.
“Any trade is going to be profitable, and any amount of imports from Israel is profitable. That financial benefit can play a significant role in funding Israel’s key programs right now,” Hakim said. “Israel’s main agenda right now is to end Palestine, so let’s not support that.”
Official estimates say more than 39,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza in Israeli ground and air strikes over the past nine months, but a study published earlier this month in the journal Lancet estimated the actual death toll could be as high as 186,000.
“The existence of trade relations, especially the growth of trade relations, gives Israel room to try other channels of engagement with Indonesia, which is dangerous. It will weaken Indonesia's spirit of defending Palestine.”
Indonesian civil society members have also called on the government to cut trade ties 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 on the other hand, it continues trade relations,” Muhammad Anshorullah of the Aqsa Working Group in Jakarta told Arab News.
“I urge the government … to also take decisive action … to end trade relations with Zionist Israel.”
Sesep Jassim, who organized a mass demonstration in Gaza last November that drew thousands of people, said commercial relations with Israel contradicted Indonesia's stance on Palestine.
“We urge them to stop all trade activities with Israel… The government must resolutely reject any kind of relationship with Zionist Israel so that Indonesia will not be seen as having a foot in both camps for its own benefit,” he said.
The Indonesian branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which calls for economic and trade pressure against Israel, also protested against Indonesia-Israel trade relations.
“BDS rejects Indonesia’s trade relations with Israel in all their forms. That is clear. We demand that the Ministry of Trade put an end to it… As for the growing volume, this is very unfortunate, especially since it is happening in the midst of ongoing genocide, this growth should not happen and must be addressed,” BDS Indonesia representative Muhammad Shawki Hafiz told Arab News.
“Indonesia should not be satisfied with the current position. It is not enough. There must be more. There must be an expansion of policies to deter Israel. It must not be just about defending Palestine. If Indonesia is serious about its commitments, then it must do so.”
Media Wahu Askar, director of public policy at the Center for Economic and Legal Studies, said Indonesia does not rely on Israeli products and can find substitutes in other countries.
“The government should seriously consider calling for a boycott of products associated with Israel, even Israeli products, as this is very effective in putting pressure on the private sector to stop working with Israel,” he told Arab News, adding that it “will not have a significant negative impact on the Indonesian economy.”
From January to May 2024, Indonesia's imports were about $91 billion, meaning that imports from Israel, most of which were through third countries, accounted for less than 0.05% of the total.
But Indonesia has “strategic value” for Israel, Askar said.
“In the coming years, Israel is expected to continue to look for ways to influence Indonesia's political economy and normalize trade relations to gain global influence,” he said.
