Foreign Minister Denies Rumors Prabowo Will Visit Israel

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto is rumored to be visiting Israel after attending the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit (KTT).

This rumor was raised by an online media from Israel, namely The Times of Israel. In the Israeli online media article, it was written that Prabowo was scheduled to arrive in Israel on Tuesday, October 14. According to the media, this marks the first visit of the head of state from Indonesia to Israel.

However, the news was immediately denied by Foreign Minister Sugiono. Sugiono emphasized that Prabowo had no plans to visit Israel.

"It is not true (Prabowo will go to Israel). As originally planned, the President will return to his homeland after the event in Egypt is over," Sugiono told reporters, Monday, October 13.

Meanwhile, Prabowo Subianto has arrived at Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport, Egypt to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit on Monday, October 13.

The Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Monday afternoon informed that the Garuda Indonesia-1 aircraft carrying the Head of State and a limited group arrived at around 07.00 local time.

"It appears to welcome the arrival of the Head of State in Cairo, namely the Chamber of Commerce andain of the Presidential Office of Egypt Mohammed Mokhtar, the Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Lutfi Rauf, and the Defense Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo Marine Colonel (P) Dafris D. Syahruddin," the statement said.

Previously, the Head of State and his entourage took off from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, at 00.20 WIB.

While in Cairo, the Head of State is scheduled to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit.

At this summit, President Prabowo plans to witness the signing ceremony of the peace agreement and the termination of the war in Gaza.

The summit is also planned to be attended by a number of Heads of State and Heads of Governments including US President Donald Trump, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Emir Qatar Sheikh Thamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabian Prime Minister Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

"President Prabowo's invitation at the Sharm El-Sheih Summit shows Indonesia's important role in encouraging the creation of peace in the Middle East region, especially the Gaza conflict," he said.