Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, has asked its chief to resign for inviting a U.S. scholar known for his support of Israel during the Gaza war to an internal event in August, according to meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters.
The leadership of NU, which is also the world’s biggest Islamic organisation with around 100 million members and affiliates, has given Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf three days to offer his resignation or be removed from his post, according to the minutes from a meeting on Thursday.
NU cited Staquf’s invitation to a person “affiliated with an International Zionism network” for an internal event and alleged financial mismanagement as reasons for his ouster.
Staquf, who has been NU’s chairman since 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NU official Najib Azca told Reuters the decision was linked to Staquf’s invitation to former U.S. official and scholar Peter Berkowitz for an August training event.
Staquf has apologised for the invitation and called it an oversight as he had not carefully checked Berkowitz’s background, adding that he condemned Israel’s “brutal genocidal acts in Gaza”.
Berkowitz often writes in support of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to his website, including a piece in September aiming to refute allegations of genocide against Israel.
The decision illustrates the pitfalls ahead if Indonesia were to even contemplate recognition of the Jewish state. Recall President Prabowo Subianto had raised eyebrows at the UN General Assembly in September when he said the world must “recognize”, “respect”, and “guarantee the safety and security of Israel. Only then can we have real peace.”
He also added, Indonesia would “immediately” recognize Israel once it recognizes a Palestinian state. There were even reports in the Israeli media of the Indonesian leader coming to Jerusalem after attending the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit.
But that was not to be. Indonesia’s foreign ministry denied plans for any such visit and the Times of Israel said in a report quoting a source that while the president had approved of the visit, when news of it leaked he backed out, fearing a backlash at home.
