Prabowo Allegedly Ready to Withdraw Indonesia from the Board of Peace if Palestine Is Not Defended

President Prabowo Subianto is reportedly prepared to remove Indonesia from the Board of Peace (BoP) if the US-led council led by President Donald Trump does not align with Indonesia’s interests regarding Palestine. Hanif Alatas, Secretary of the Shura Council of the DPP Front Pembela Islam (FPI), who was among Islamist organisations invited to an iftar with Prabowo at the Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, on Thursday evening, 5 March, disclosed this. He said that in the meeting Prabowo indicated the possibility of withdrawing if there is no benefit for Palestine or if it does not align with Indonesia’s national interests. ‘If there is no longer any benefit for Palestine, there is no chance to advance the Palestinian cause, and it does not align with Indonesia’s national interests, the President will withdraw. That was the statement. But we do not need to wait for that; from now on, people have proven that America cannot be trusted,’ Hanif said. In the meeting, Hanif said the FPI had not yet had the opportunity to speak directly to Prabowo. However, the organisation handed over a letter containing a call for Indonesia to withdraw from BoP. ‘We did not have the chance to speak, but we handed over a letter. Our letter was delivered; we also conveyed to the President that we still ask that the Republic of Indonesia withdraw from BoP,’ he said. He explained that the FPI is calling for Indonesia to withdraw from BoP because it does not trust America and Israel, which are deemed to have a poor track record in various conflicts. ‘We believe in the goodwill of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, but we do not trust America. We do not trust Israel. The prophets and apostles were betrayed by Israel, let alone us mere mortals,’ he said. According to him, Indonesia’s involvement in BoP could raise issues, including the possibility that Indonesian troops might come face to face with Palestinian fighters in Gaza. Habib Hanif emphasised that the FPI has no objection to Indonesian troops being sent to help the emancipation of Palestine. However, he rejects any deployment under American command that could disarm Gaza fighters. ‘If troops are sent to Gaza to liberate Palestine, we support it; we are even ready to back volunteers. But if troops are sent to Gaza under American command and disarm Gaza fighters, leading to confrontation, this is what we do not want,’ he said. This sentiment was also voiced by Cholil Nafis, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). He said Prabowo promised to withdraw from the Peace Council or Board of Peace (BoP) if Indonesia cannot bring peace to Palestine. ‘His pledge is that if I am not useful in BoP, I will resign,’ Cholil Nafis told reporters at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday night, 5 March. Cholil said Prabowo’s pledge is that all his steps are aimed at advancing the independence of Palestine. He stated that Indonesia’s position is already very clear and will not change on this. ‘If it is not for the benefit of Palestine, then he will resign,’ he added. Prabowo has continued to face criticism regarding Indonesia’s participation in BoP, seen as serving the interests of the United States and Israel in the conflict with Palestine. Amid the pressure, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said discussions on BoP have been postponed at the government level amid the turbulent Middle East situation as the Iran–US–Israel conflict rekindles since late February. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said there has been no BoP discussion in the past week. The government’s diplomatic focus is currently on ensuring the safety and protection of Indonesian citizens in war-affected areas. ‘As the Foreign Minister stated a few days ago, all discussions on BoP are currently suspended or on hold,’ she said at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Friday, 6 March.