Jokowi Guarantees Israel National Football Team to Participate in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in Memory of Today, March 27, 2023

President Joko Widodo receives a jersey from FIFA President Gianni Infantino after a meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/10/2022). (ANTARA FOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/foc)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, three years ago, March 27, 2023, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) guaranteed the participation of the Israeli national football team in the organization of the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia. Jokowi considers Israel's presence to have no political content and does not interfere with Indonesia's political stance in supporting Palestine.

Previously, Indonesia's attitude towards Israel has never changed. Indonesia has always sided with Palestine. As a result, Indonesia has never opened official cooperation relations with Israel.

The bitterness of living as an colonized nation is not easily forgotten in world history. No one wants a lasting colonization. Indonesia also believes in it. Indonesia's bitter experience of being colonized by the Dutch, then Japan has left its mark.

As a result, after Indonesia's independence, the world condemned the existing colonialism. The uniqueness of this is stated in the opening of the 1945 Constitution. Colonialism in the world must be abolished. This condition also applies in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Indonesia often chooses a position in favor of Palestine. The nation's leaders believe that the modern colonization of Palestine must be immediately ended. This bias makes Indonesia unwilling to recognize Israel as a country.

The official portrait of PSSI and the Ministry of Youth and Sports officially counted down 100 days to host the 2023 U-20 World Cup. (ANTARA)

The impact is that there is no cooperation. Indonesia is also not willing to sit at the same table with Israel. This attitude has been maintained by the leaders of the nation from the era of Soekarno to Jokowi. Jokowi even repeatedly revealed that Indonesia has always sided with Palestine.

Problems arise. Dilemmas accompany the government when Indonesia has the opportunity to host the 2023 U-20 World Cup. Israel is one of the participants. Israel's participation was then condemned by many parties. Religious organizations take turns demanding the Indonesian government to ban Israel from coming.

The government is confused. They can't make a decision right away. Banning Israel is the same as deleting Indonesia's dream of being the host.

"There should be no loophole whatsoever on the grounds of betraying the mandate of the opening of the 1945 Constitution and damaging the president's commitment so as to open space for Israel to enter Indonesia through any channel, including the U-20 football World Cup channel."

"Before it's too late, the government should reconsider the decision to accept and provide security guarantees to the Israeli national team. Guard this republic from certain forces that try to pit the community against each other through the U-20 football world cup," said the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Department of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, as quoted by lamandetik.com, March 14, 2023.

The government is asked to take a stand immediately. The government is asked to be firm in refusing Israel to participate. However, a different decision was made by Jokowi on March 27, 2023. Jokowi actually guaranteed Israel's participation in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.

Jokowi considers that Indonesia must obey the rules of the World Football Federation, FIFA. Indonesia is considered by Jokowi not to interfere with political and sports affairs. Jokowi also said that the option he chose was the best step.

Indonesia could host, even if Israel could play. The narrative continued to condemn the government. Later, the rejection after the rejection then reached the end of FIFA. As a result, Indonesia's position as host was then replaced by Argentina.

"In this matter of the U-20 World Cup, we agree with the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia that FIFA has rules that must be obeyed by its members. So don't mix up the issue of sports and politics. For that I have sent PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir to meet with the FIFA team to find the best solution, find the best solution."

"I guarantee that Israel's participation has nothing to do with the consistency of our foreign policy position on Palestine. It's all because our support for Palestine has always been solid and strong," said Jokowi as quoted by the CNBC Indonesia website, March 27, 2023.