Carefully Responding To The Polemic Of The Participation Of The Israeli National Team In The 2023 U-20 World Cup

President Jokowi after meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on October 18, 2022. (Documentation of Kemenpan RB)

JAKARTA The polemic about the participation of the Israeli national team in the 2023 U-20 World Cup is increasingly tapering in the realm of social media. The debate has even targeted WhatsApp groups. National football observer Kesit Handoyo was surprised because it wasn't the first time a number of Israeli athletes had come and competed in Indonesia.

For example, in the 2015 BWF badminton tournament at Istora Senayan, the rock climbing championship in September 2022, and the 2023 UCI Nations Cup Jakarta bicycle racing tournament at the Jakarta International Velodrome, Rawamangun, East Jakarta.

"So, why should it be a scene, is it because the number of participants is more," said Kesit to VOI on March 28, 2023.

In fact, not only athletes, the Israeli delegation also attended the 144th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Bali last year. After all, the condition is similar, even though the Indonesian House of Representatives was the host, the arrival of representatives of the Israeli parliament at that time was not at the official invitation of the government but from the IPU as the initiator of the event.

The Israeli national team is also a contestant for the U-20 World Cup not on Indonesia's wishes, but because it has passed the qualification.

"The organization of the FIFA and Israel World Cup is a member of FIFA who has passed the qualification to participate in the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia," said Kesit.

If things like this alone become a polemic, in the end, Indonesia will find it difficult to organize even bigger events. What about the implementation of the ANOC World Beach Games in Bali in August 2023, with Israel being one of the participants?

Then, how can Indonesia's dream of running for the 2036 Olympics. This is a much bigger event. So don't talk, we want to become a big country in sports, if for things like this we are still making a fuss ourselves," said Kesit.

Director of The Indonesia Intelligence Institute, Ridlwan Habib also advised the government to be really careful in its attitude. It is necessary to maintain the authority of Indonesian diplomacy in international relations, including PSSI's good relations with FIFA.

It is also necessary to ensure that there are no violations of the principle of the 1945 Constitution which rejects colonialism and imperialism to date.

"In terms of security threats, it is quite vulnerable because the Israeli national team has the potential to be targeted by terrorist groups in Indonesia such as the pro-ISIS group and pro-Al Qaeda. The safety factors of athletes and delegates, as well as the safety of the stadium where they compete, must be a priority," said Ridlwan, alumni of the UI Strategic Intelligence Study.

In addition to the threat of terrorism, it is also necessary to be aware that this issue is brought to political issues, especially if it triggers massive demonstrations.

"Indonesia ahead of the 2024 General Election, the situation can be very escalative, especially if it is twisted as if there is a violation of the constitution by allowing Israel to come, this is a political danger," said Ridlwan.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked all parties not to mix sports affairs and political affairs. The U-20 World Cup is the domain of FIFA so that its implementation must comply with FIFA provisions, including the contestants.

As stated by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al Shun, that the Israeli national team passed in a legal way according to the rules set by FIFA, so it was entitled to appear in the 2023 U-20 World Cup.

The participation of each country in the U-20 World Cup has nothing to do with liking or dislikeing a country, because each country participates as part of the competition that runs according to applicable regulations.

"In terms of the U-20 World Cup, we agree with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia that FIFA has rules that its members must obey," Jokowi said in his official statement on March 28, 2023.

Jokowi ensured that Israel's participation had nothing to do with the consistency of Indonesia's foreign political position towards Palestine.

"The state has always been consistent in fighting for and supporting the independence of Palestine and supporting the completion of the two state solution. According to the constitution, we reject colonialism in any form, we always convey this in bilateral forums, multilateral forums, and other international forums," said Jokowi.

So far, the government and PSSI are still trying to find the best solution.

"I have directly sent the PSSI General Chair to meet with the FIFA team to discuss it," said Jokowi.

As for the solution, Ridlwan proposed FIFA to make special rules for the Israeli national team not to use attributes, logos and flags while competing in Indonesia.

"I think, in a super special situation, FIFA could issue exclusion regulations such as when banning LGBT rainbow attributes at the Qatar World Cup some time ago," he said.

In line with Article 151 of Permenlu No. 3 of 2019 concerning General Guidelines for Foreign Relations by the Regional Government. In conducting relationships with Israel, it is necessary to pay attention to existing procedures and so far they are still valid:

"The middle way is FIFA to respect the rules of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Ridlwan.