Indonesian Ulama Council Urges Government to Protect Consumers from Israeli Products
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Ulama Council on Tuesday called on the government to protect consumers from Israel-related products, as imports have increased despite there being no diplomatic relations between Jakarta and Tel Aviv.
Indonesia has been among the most vocal countries in calling for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestine and an end to international military support and arms sales to Tel Aviv, especially after the start of Israel's deadly invasion of Gaza.
Campaigns calling for a boycott of companies that have direct or perceived ties to Israeli institutions are also recurring events in the country, where many consider Palestinian statehood a constitutional requirement.
In this context, many were shocked when the latest data from the country's Central Statistics Agency showed growing economic ties with Israel, with imports to Indonesia worth more than $35 million between January and May.
Although the amount is not significant in Indonesia's overall trade volume, it is nearly four times higher than the $8.85 million recorded in the same period in 2023 and exceeds last year's total of $21.9 million. Official data also showed that Indonesia's exports to Israel had reached more than $66 million in May.
The rising trade volume made national headlines earlier this month, prompting the government to take action.
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on trade-related matters and the Ministry of Commerce did not respond to questions about trade relations with Israel, the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, which is the country’s top religious body, said trade ties “must be stopped.”
MUI Foreign Relations Chairman Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim told Arab News that the government must protect Indonesian consumers according to existing laws.
“We have the consumer protection law, so the government should respect it to protect consumers from Israeli products, whatever they are,” he said.
Weeks after the Israeli invasion began, the MUI issued a fatwa, or religious decree, prohibiting Indonesian Muslims from purchasing products in any way connected to Israel.
“Any trade will definitely generate profits, and whatever the value of our imports from Israel, there is obviously a profit involved. This financial gain is what could potentially play a major role in financing Israel's main programs right now,” Hakim said. “Since Israel's main program right now is to end Palestine, let's not support it.”
According to official estimates, Israeli air and ground attacks over the past nine months have killed more than 39,000 Palestinian citizens in Gaza, although a study published in the journal Lancet earlier this month estimated that the actual death toll could exceed 186,000.
“The existence of trade relations, especially their growth, gives Israel room to try other channels of relations with Indonesia, and this is dangerous. It weakens Indonesia’s spirit in defending Palestine.”
Members of Indonesian civil society have also called on the government to sever trade ties with Israel.
“For me, this is a hypocritical double standard. On the one hand, the government condemns the Zionists' genocide and calls for a ceasefire, but on the other hand it continues with trade relations,” Muhammad Anshorullah of the Jakarta-based Aqsa Working Group told Arab News.
“I am urging the government … to take firm measures … to sever trade ties with Zionist Israel.”
Cecep Jasim, who coordinated a march of thousands for Gaza in West Java last November, said trade ties with Israel contradict Indonesia's position on Palestine.
“We urge to end all business activities with Israel… The government must firmly reject any kind of relationship with Zionist Israel, so that Indonesia is not seen as having a foot in both camps for its own gain,” he said.
The Indonesian branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which calls for economic and trade pressure against Israel, also protested Indonesia's trade relations with Israel.
“BDS rejects Indonesia's trade relations with Israel in all its forms, this is clear. We demand that the Ministry of Trade put an end to it… As for the increasing volume, this is extremely regrettable, especially since it is happening in the midst of an ongoing genocide, such growth should not happen and must be corrected,” BDS Indonesia head Muhammad Syauqi Hafiz told Arab News.
“Indonesia should not be satisfied with its current position, it is not enough. There must be more, a political escalation to try to stop Israel as well, not just defend Palestine. This is how it should be if Indonesia is sincere in its commitments.”
Media Wahyu Askar, director of public policy at the Center for Economic and Legal Studies, said Indonesia is not dependent on Israeli products and could find substitutes in other countries.
“The government should seriously consider calls to boycott Israeli-affiliated products and even products from Israel, because such boycott calls are extremely effective in pressuring the private sector to stop working with Israel,” he told Arab News, adding that “it would not have any significant negative impact on the Indonesian economy.”
Indonesia's imports between January and May 2024 amounted to approximately $91 billion, which means that imports from Israel, most of which were through third countries, accounted for less than 0.05%.
But for Israel, Indonesia has “strategic value,” Askar said.
“In the coming years, Israel is expected to continue to find ways to influence Indonesia’s political economy and normalize trade relations in order to gain global influence,” he said.
