BNPB Denies Visit To Israel Claims, Says Not Receiving Assistance During Pandemic

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto (white shirt) inspects the construction of shelters and shelters in the relocation area of communities affected by the Mount Semeru APG in Lumajang Regency, East Java (ANTARA/HO-BNPB)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) denied reports of a delegation from Indonesia visiting Israel, as well as assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Israeli media The Jerusalem Post said on January 17 that a delegation from Indonesia had visited Israel in the last few days to study the prevention of COVID-19.

The delegation included the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency and the Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 Suharyanto. The visit was first reported by Israeli Army Radio.

"It's not true, Mas, unilateral information, hoax, Mr. Suharyanto has never been to Israel," replied Plt. Head of BNPB Disaster Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari, when confirmed by VOI Tuesday, January 18.

"Indonesia has not received any assistance from Israel since the pandemic," he continued.

The Jerusalem Post said in October 2020, New York-based entrepreneur Joey Allaham and Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan donated 15,000 units of Taffix, an Israeli-made anti-COVID-19 nasal spray, to Indonesian health workers and military personnel.

The media also said that contacts between Israel and Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population, had taken place, especially when the United States Administration under President Donald Trump tried to convince Jakarta to normalize relations in December 2020.