Indonesia Doesn't Want To Recognize Israel As A State In History Today, May 14, 1948

President Soekarno | Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Today, 74 years ago, May 14, 1948, Indonesia has never and will not want to recognize Israel as a state. The decision was issued by the Indonesian government to coincide with Israel's proclamation of itself as a state.

Indonesia's stance is clear. Indonesia will not open diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel's annexation of the Palestinian territories is unacceptable. At its peak, Indonesia rejected Israel's participation in the 1962 Asian Games.

Bung Karno is a figure who consistently voices anti-colonialism and imperialism on earth. Indonesia's independence does not necessarily make him complacent. He also continues to echo his rejection of colonialism on earth. Especially in African countries, Asia, and Arab countries (Palestine).

Bung Karno often voiced support for Palestine. Don't even know the time. Whenever there was an opportunity to provide support, Soekarno remained with the same narrative. He strongly condemned Israel's annexation of territory against Palestine.

President Soekarno | Wikimedia Commons

As a form of consistency, Bung Karno refused to recognize Israel which was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948. Bung Besar's heart was hurt to see the Palestinians forced to flee because their homeland was forcibly occupied by Israel. Moreover, assisted by the United States (US), then the United Nations.

Bung Karno's strong attitude towards Palestine was by the mandate in his pledge before the Dutch East Indies court. He not only stirred up anti-colonialism and imperialism but also called for resistance against them.

“... Given rights or not given rights; given a handle or not given a handle; given reinforcement or not given reinforcement - every creature, every people, every nation can't or can't, surely eventually rise, must finally wake up, must finally move his energy, if he has felt too much harm, he was persecuted by some wrathful force", shouted Bung Karno in the Indonesia Sustaining Pledoi (1930).

Soekarno at the trial at the Bandung court in 1930 | Wikimedia Commons

At its peak, Bung Karno's support for Palestine was seen in Indonesia's refusal to participate in Israel's participation in the 1962 Asian Games. This attitude was criticized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for mixing politics in sports. Indonesia was then asked to apologize or Indonesia's membership in the IOC was revoked.

Instead of apologizing, Bung Karno actually rose to fight. Soekarno also launched a rival Olympic title. Games of The New Emerging Forces (Ganefo), his name. The rival Olympics had shocked the whole world.

"They expect us to be weak and beg to be allowed to re-enter. What nation do you think we are? We are not a tempeh nation. I ordered Minister Maladi to leave the IOC. Immediately from the Games of The New Emerging Forces. That is, a combination of Asian countries, Africa, Latin America, and socialist countries.”

“The Ganefo that we will be holding later is a sport from one's own family. I ordered to make Ganefo immediately. This is not just ordered from the President, but the order of the entire Indonesian people", said Soekarno in his speech at the National Front Grand Conference on February 13, 1963.