Israeli Journalist Nearly Met President Soeharto After Entering Indonesia with Special Permit

The presence of an Israeli journalist at the Merdeka Palace in 1971 caused a stir, as Indonesia did not have diplomatic relations with Israel at the time. Ted Lurie, a journalist for the Jerusalem Post, was in Indonesia to attend a Press Foundation of Asia congress in Bali. Problems arose when Lurie and other journalists visited Jakarta and entered the Merdeka Palace complex, where he even signed the guest book. Lurie later withdrew before meeting President Soeharto, stating he did not want to cause trouble for his colleagues. An investigation ordered by President Soeharto revealed that Lurie had obtained a special permit from the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to attend the conference, which eventually calmed the controversy.