Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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France’s recognition of Palestine risks helping Israel—Indonesia should rethink its applause
This week, Indonesia welcomed France’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine as a “positive step” toward peace. On its surface, this diplomatic endorsement may appear aligned with Indonesia’s long-standing support for Palestinian self-determination. But behind France’s gesture lies a deeper, more dangerous calculus—one that does not just ignore the…
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Indonesia is right to condemn the Knesset’s West Bank move—but it must break from the two-state illusion
On 24 July, Indonesia issued a clear and forceful condemnation of Israel’s latest provocation: the Knesset’s approval of a declaration supporting sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. “Israel does not have sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated unequivocally, calling the move an illegal…
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Indonesia must reject Mossad’s Gaza evacuation scheme
On 18 July 2025, Axios reported a deeply troubling revelation: the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, has contacted Indonesia as part of a plan to resettle hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza. In a meeting last week in Washington, Barnea told White House envoy Steve Witkoff…
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Indonesia stood with the Hague Group in Bogotá. It must go further for Palestine
At this week’s summit in Bogotá, twelve nations—Indonesia among them—endorsed a joint declaration committing to tangible measures aimed at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing war in Gaza. In a global landscape where high-level condemnation often fails to translate into action, the Hague Group’s initiative stands out for its clarity…
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ASEAN can—and must—do better on Palestine
In a world fractured by conflict and muted by fear, Palestine has become a mirror of our moral priorities. And last week in Kuala Lumpur, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) showed that while it is willing to speak, it still stops short of saying what the moment demands.…
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To stand with Palestine, Indonesia must cut ties with the Tony Blair Institute
Indonesia has long positioned itself as a steadfast supporter of Palestine. Government officials deliver speeches condemning Israeli aggression, and mass demonstrations regularly call for justice and liberation. The country’s constitution explicitly opposes colonialism and upholds human dignity. Yet these commitments may well be undermined by Indonesia’s ongoing collaboration with the…
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The BRICS declaration may be a breakthrough on Palestine — but action must follow
The BRICS Rio de Janeiro Declaration, issued on 7 July 2025 offers one of the clearest and most forthright positions to date by a major international bloc on Israel’s assault on Gaza and the wider Palestinian crisis. While Western powers remain evasive, and ASEAN stays cautiously neutral, BRICS has broken…
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The killing of cardiologist in Gaza must be Indonesia’s wake-up call
Dr Marwan al-Sultan was not a soldier. He was one of Gaza’s last remaining cardiologists, and the director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza—a facility built with donations from ordinary Indonesians. For months, he worked amid airstrikes, shortages, and siege, refusing to abandon his patients even when he had…
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Prabowo’s Saudi visit: Key takeaways
President Prabowo Subianto has just concluded his first state visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office in October 2024. Over three days in Riyadh, he unveiled a headline-grabbing $27 billion in investment deals—an impressive figure, but one that means little unless those commitments translate into real, on-the-ground progress. The trip…
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Indonesian media shouldn’t give platforms to pro-Israel voices
Indonesia has long positioned itself as a firm opponent of colonialism and injustice. That stance is not rhetorical. It is enshrined in its constitution, which clearly states: “Colonialism must be abolished in this world because it is not in accordance with humanity and justice.” Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestine —…
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ASEAN’s statement on the Middle East is complicity in disguise
By issuing a cautious, measured statement on the recent Israel–Iran war, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has once again chosen rhetorical neutrality over moral clarity. On 26 June, its foreign ministers expressed vague “concern,” called for de-escalation, and offered generic support for the United Nations. But nowhere in…
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Indonesia at the OIC meeting on Iran-Israel war: A step forward, but not bold enough
Indonesia’s participation at the 51st Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul last weekend was a necessary step in articulating its stance on the escalating Iran-Israel war. Foreign Minister Sugiono delivered strong statements condemning Israel’s reckless military aggression—not just its illegal attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, but…
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Indonesia in the crossfire: Israel-Iran conflict and Western hypocrisy
Indonesia is being affected today not because of its own conflicts, but because of a war ignited thousands of miles away, rooted in Israel’s relentless warmongering policies. The current Iran-Israel confrontation, which is now destabilising global oil markets and creating economic uncertainty in Indonesia, should serve as a stark reminder:…
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The global march to Gaza: Indonesia and Egypt
This week, ten Indonesian citizens — among them celebrities like Wanda Hamidah, Zaskia Adya Mecca, and Ratna Galih — landed in Cairo, not for a political summit, but to join the Global March to Gaza. They came bearing no weapons, no agendas, only the unyielding conviction that humanity must speak…
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Indonesia shouldn’t trade Palestine for OECD membership
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recently signaled that the country may consider recognizing Israel—if Israel, in turn, recognizes Palestinian statehood. The remarks, made during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, surprised many. Yet they closely reflect Indonesia’s broader strategic ambition: to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For…
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The Palestine Question at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit
At the 2025 ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, leaders from Asia and the Arab world gathered under the glow of diplomatic language and cautious optimism. The joint statement from the summit acknowledged key developments concerning Palestine — including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion deeming Israel’s occupation unlawful, and…
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President Prabowo is wrong: The two-state illusion must end
In a recent statement, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto declared his government’s willingness to recognize Israel—if Palestine is recognized as an independent state. He reaffirmed what has become a tired refrain in international diplomacy: that the only path to peace in the region lies in the so-called “two-state solution.” But with…
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Jakarta’s May PUIC Summit Spoke for Palestine. What Comes Next?
This month in Jakarta, as Israeli bombs continued to devastate Gaza, more than 400 lawmakers from across the Muslim world gathered for the 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC). The timing could not have been more urgent. For Palestinians, it was another chapter in…
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Indonesia cannot claim solidarity with Palestine while partnering with BlackRock
In a nation where political leaders proudly invoke the spirit of anti-colonialism, and where support for Palestine is a deeply held conviction across ideological lines, Indonesia now stands at a moral crossroads. Recent reports confirm that the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, is courting cooperation with BlackRock, the world’s largest…
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I have never supported IS: Singapore’s allegation is deeply misguided
On May 15, 2025, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responded publicly to my earlier opinion piece, in which I described being subjected to interrogation at Changi Airport on two separate occasions in 2023. Rather than addressing the concerns I raised about academic freedom and the treatment of scholars in…
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I was interrogated in Singapore twice for writing about Palestine
In 2023, I experienced something I never expected in a country like Singapore. Not once, but twice, I was detained and interrogated at Changi Airport—not for breaking any law, not for carrying suspicious items, but for my work as an academic and journalist who writes on Middle Eastern affairs, especially…
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Why Indonesians rally more for Gaza than Xinjiang
Indonesians have shown overwhelming solidarity with the Palestinian people. From massive demonstrations to donation drives and viral social media campaigns, the public response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza has been emotional, urgent, and consistent. Yet, in stark contrast, the plight of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region has not sparked…
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A senior Indonesian parliamentary official speaks for Gaza, but more needs to be done
The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani spoke at the inter-parliamentary forum in Istanbul recently and delivered a powerful message about Indonesia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. The forum, organised by the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine, gathered lawmakers from around the world…
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Indonesia should not allow its citizens to study in Israel
In recent years, a small but notable number of Indonesian students have traveled to Israel to pursue educational programs, including at the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and even Ariel University, located in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West…