U-20 World Cup: Governor Wayan Koster refuses to allow the Israeli national team to compete in Bali

Kisah Berita 1001 - Israel's participation in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, which starts on May 20, continues to be rejected by several parties.

After the rejection was voiced by several Islamic organizations, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, Tuesday (14/03), said that his party refused to make Bali the location for the Israeli national team's match during the U-20 World Cup later.

This was stated by Wayan Koster in his letter to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Zaenudin Amali, which was sent on Tuesday (14/03).

From the information Koster received, six provinces were designated as the venue for the tournament, namely Bali, Jakarta, South Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

In his letter, Koster explained the reasons for Bali's refusal to be used as the location for the Israeli national team's match.

According to him, Israel's political policies towards Palestine are inconsistent with Indonesian political policies, "which is still a serious problem in regional politics, as well as the absence of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Israeli government."

For this reason, Wayan Koster asked the Minister of Youth and Sports to adopt a policy to ban the Israeli national team from competing in Bali.

"The Bali government has stated that it refuses the participation of the Israeli national team to compete in the province of Bali," he said.

"This was done to respect diplomatic relations between the Indonesian government and governments of other countries in the world, especially with regard to Israel," said Koster.

Previously, strong rejection came mainly from a number of Islamic organizations.

They consider that accepting the arrival of the Israeli U-20 soccer national team is tantamount to legitimizing the occupation of the Palestinian nation.

Indonesia, whose population is predominantly Muslim, has so far not established diplomatic relations with Israel and has always supported Palestinian independence.

However, football observer Anton Wijaya said Indonesia had no reason to reject the Israeli national team because it had already volunteered to host the U-20 World Cup.

Acting Minister of Youth and Sports (Plt Menpora) Muhadjir Effendy said Israel's participation in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia was being studied, but he emphasized the government's commitment to the constitution which opposes all forms of colonialism.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Indonesia's hosting of the U-20 World Cup will not shake support for Palestine.

Who rejects the arrival of Israel?

Since the Israeli U-20 football team qualified for the 2023 World Cup finals last June, there has been opposition from various parties in Indonesia.

On Monday (20/03), the 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) held a demonstration in the Horse Statue area, Gambir, Central Jakarta. They called on the Indonesian government to reject the arrival of the Israeli national team.

The deputy secretary general of PA 212, Novel Bamukmin, said the reason for their refusal was because they considered Israel to be an occupying country that had taken Palestinian land and occupied east Jerusalem, the location of one of the three holy places for Muslims, namely the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The novel quotes the first paragraph of the opening of the 1945 Constitution which states that all forms of colonialism on earth must be abolished because they are not in accordance with humanity and justice.

"Now, in this spirit, it means that the constitutional basis that we hold must be rejected by the Israeli national team because accepting the Israeli national team is the same as legitimacy rather than colonialism in this world," he said.

Novel said that if the Israeli national team still came to Indonesia, his party would continue to carry out demonstrations. However, he promised their action would remain within the constitutional path.

“Maybe we can also demonstrate at the airport to refuse the Israeli national team to attend, as well as to the stadium where the Israeli national team is [playing], we will carry out acts of resistance. However, we must be able to reject the Israeli national team. Of course, through the constitutional path," said Novel.

Previously, the participation of the Israeli national team in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia was also responded to by the chairman of one of the largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah.

Haedar Nashir said policies related to football or other matters had to be in line with state policies or politics.

"As long as the country still has policies of anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, and does not have diplomatic relations with one country, the others must adjust," said Haedar as reported by detik.com.

Rejection did not only come from Islamic mass organizations, but also came from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI), and the Indonesian boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

However, the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair al-Shun, said his government had no problem with the participation of the Israeli national team in the U-20 World Cup.

He added Palestine understood Indonesia's position as a host subject to the rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA).

"The participation of each country in this event certainly has nothing to do with the likes or dislikes of a country, because every country participates as part of the competition which runs according to applicable regulations," said Zuhair at the Palestinian Embassy, Wednesday (15/03 ) as reported by Antara news agency

Can Indonesia reject Israel?

However, football observer Anton Sanjoyo said that Indonesia, as the host of the U-20 World Cup, had no reason to refuse the arrival of the Israeli national team.

That's because Israel is a member of FIFA, which means it is eligible to take part in all tournaments under the FIFA banner as long as it meets the requirements.

"Because Indonesia has volunteered as the host and been accepted by FIFA, replacing China, all responsibilities involved in participating or Indonesia's willingness to host the U-20 World Cup should be taken care of properly because this is at stake for Indonesia's dignity and sovereignty as an independent country. ,” Anton told BBC News Indonesia.

He added, if Indonesia refused Israel's arrival, Indonesia could be criticized by FIFA and other countries for not carrying out the mandate.

Furthermore, Anton is of the opinion that sports matters must be separated from political affairs.

He said if Indonesia wants to reject Israeli athletes on colonial and humanitarian grounds, then Indonesia must also reject athletes from other countries who have been accused of colonialism.

"If Indonesia wants to obey the group [which rejects Israel], we should boycott all sporting events in which the United States participates, for example... We also have to boycott China, we also have to boycott France, we have to boycott all countries because these countries nothing is holy from sins against humanity, “said Anton.

What is the attitude of the Indonesian government?

Plt Menpora Muhadjir Effendi said the Indonesian government was reviewing the technical issues regarding the arrival of the Israeli U-20 national team to Indonesia.

Responding to criticism from PKS politician Muhammad Nasir Djamil during a working meeting of Commission III of the DPR in Senayan, Monday (20/03), Muhadjir said the government would uphold the constitution, especially the first paragraph of the opening of the 1945 Constitution.

However, said Muhadjir, Indonesia had already committed to becoming the organizer of the U-20.

"Our position is clear, so we the Indonesian government will not move an inch in upholding the constitution. It's just that we have also committed to being the organizer of the venue for the event, and I think we agree that this event is very strategic to elevate the dignity of the Indonesian people. " said Muhadjir, as reported by various media.

The previous Menpora who has now resigned, Zainuddin Amali, said that his party and PSSI only played the role of organizing the world football championship.

The diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel are handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah declined to be interviewed. However, during a briefing with reporters last March 10, he stressed that Indonesia's hosting of the U-20 World Cup would not shake support for Palestine.

"The Indonesian government's position on the Palestinian issue has never changed and is very consistent," he said.

Has something like this ever happened?

This is not the first time that diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel have complicated sports affairs.

In 1962, President Sukarno refused to grant visas to the Israeli delegation wishing to take part in the Asian Games. As a result, Indonesia was suspended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and banned from participating in the 1964 Summer Olympics.

A more recent incident occurred in 2015 when Israeli athlete Misha Zilberman was about to compete in the Badminton World Championships. Zilberman had waited in Singapore for two weeks because Indonesia refused his visa even though he had applied six months earlier.

At that time, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) even threatened to eliminate Indonesia from hosting the Badminton World Championships if it did not accept Zilberman.

Zilberman finally got a last-minute visa and flew to Jakarta. However, he ran aground after being defeated by Taiwanese player Hsu Jen Hao.

At the 2023 World Cup which starts on May 20, the technical issues highlighted include the granting of visas to Israeli players, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag and the playing of the Israeli national anthem at the match.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said several technical policies had been discussed with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.

"I quoted him 'all the routes have been discussed and prepared, just wait for it later'," said Faizasyah, last March 10.