The controversy started when Mr Zainul posted on Instagram about his meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The meeting reportedly touched on the Hamas-Israel conflict and relations between Indonesia and Israel. Public anger and condemnation quickly followed, leading Mr Zainul to disable the comments section of his account and eventually delete the post entirely.
The trip by the NU members to Israel sparked strong reactions in Indonesia due to the ongoing conflict in Palestine and the Indonesian government’s condemnation of Israel’s actions. Local health authorities reported that about 39,000 people had been killed in Palestine since October, further fueling the outrage over the visit by the NU members.
Mdm Hurriyah, a political lecturer at the University of Indonesia, highlighted that the timing of the trip exacerbated the situation, as it was held amid Israel’s actions in Palestine. The lack of sensitivity by the NU members to the wider political situation was also noted by Professor Asep Saepudin Jahar, who specializes in the sociology of Islamic law. He pointed out that a visit to Israel would be controversial for Indonesians even without the ongoing conflict, highlighting the need for greater awareness and understanding of the political implications of such visits.
In response to the public outcry, NU’s general chairman, Mr Yahya Cholil Staquf, issued an apology for the uproar caused by the trip to Israel. He acknowledged the mistake made by the NU members and expressed hope for forgiveness from the wider community. Mr Yahya, who had faced criticism in the past for meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left the decision on how to proceed with the individuals who went to Israel to the relevant parties within NU.
Mr Sukron, one of the NU members who went on the trip, explained that the visit was initiated by civil society and not sponsored by the Israeli government. He emphasized that the purpose of the trip was to gain a better understanding of the situation in Israel and explore how Indonesian civil society could contribute to ending the conflict or reaching an armistice. With Indonesia having no diplomatic relations with Israel, civil society initiatives were seen as crucial in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region and supporting peace efforts.
The controversy surrounding the trip by the NU members to Israel highlighted the sensitivity of the issue in Indonesia, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Palestine. The incident underscored the importance of greater awareness and understanding of the political implications of such visits and the need for sensitivity to the wider context of international relations. Moving forward, it is crucial for organizations like NU to take into account public sentiments and perceptions when engaging in activities that have political implications, to avoid causing further controversy and backlash.
