ISRAEL'S QUIET OUTREACH TO INDONESIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 003291 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, NEA, EAP/RSP SINGAPORE FOR REED COMMERCE 4430 FOR BERLINGUETTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017 TAGS: ECON PREL PGOV ETRD ID IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL'S QUIET OUTREACH TO INDONESIA REF: 06 JAKARTA 8622 Classified By: Ambassador Hume, Reasons 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (C) Summary. Israel's Ambassador to Singapore Ilan Ben-Dov met with Ambassador Hume on November 30 to discuss Israel's desire for more -- though quiet -- economic and political engagement with Indonesia. Ben-Dov was sponsored on a three-day trip to Jakarta by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, which visited Israel on a trade mission in mid-2006. Ben-Dov hopes more business-to-business contacts will eventually lead to opportunities for political dialogue in the future. End Summary. Business-to-Business Contacts Sought -------------- ¶2. (C) Israel's Ambassador to Singapore Ilan Ben-Dov met Ambassador Hume in Jakarta on November 30. Ben-Dov's Commercial Attache Anat Katz accompanied him. Ben-Dov said that dialog with Indonesia via Singapore had dried up about seven years ago. Israel started to seek ways to re-establish contact about two years ago, and determined that trade relations were the best place to start. Israel invited the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) for a visit in mid-2006 (see reftel). The plan was to keep the relations business-to-business with minimal government interference. "Bringing the Israeli and Indonesian business communities in contact is useful," Ambassador Ben-Dov stated, "but we need more knowledge of Indonesia's economy. It is hard to manage things by remote control from Singapore." ¶3. (C) KADIN Vice President John Prasetio said KADIN would like to help Israel sponsor a small project in Indonesia, which would attract some good will. Prasetio noted Israel's success in agricultural technology, and that may be an area to highlight, mentioning a strawberry farm not far from Jakarta. Ben-Dov said that Israel would be happy to share farming know-how. Welcoming GOI Efforts in Middle East -------------- ¶4. (C) KADIN sponsored Ambassador Ben-Dov's three-day visit to Jakarta, to help facilitate business outreach. Israel seeks eventually more contact in the political arena while keeping it very low key. "We have no grand aspirations of establishing diplomatic relations," Ben-Dov noted, "only to re-ignite a process for exchanging views." Ambassador Hume noted that Indonesians are energized in two ways about Middle East issues, one in a negative way -- sensitive to criticism by domestic groups and Arab nations; the other seeking to expand international engagement and greater respect as the world's fourth most populous nation. Ben-Dov noted that Israel welcomes Indonesia's engagement in the Middle East. President Yudhoyono's close advisor Sudi Silalahi met with Prime Minister Olmert in Israel last year and had a good dialogue. Indonesia and Middle East: A Work in Progress -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador Hume said Indonesia needs more contacts and relations in the Middle East to play a larger role. Ben-Dov agreed that Indonesia does not yet have the tools, information and analysis to engage effectively in the Middle East. President Yudhoyono and Indonesia's leaders need more experience, exposure and information on Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, he said. Ambassador Hume noted that while Yudhoyono has access to good minds with plenty of brainpower, it may not be enough to facilitate sound decision-making in certain foreign policy areas, especially sensitive political issues in the run-up to national elections. Israeli Outreach in SE Asian Muslims -------------- JAKARTA 00003291 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) As one example of outreach to SE Asian Muslims, Ben-Dov mentioned the Israeli Ambassador to Greece, a Palestinian Arab-Muslim. This Ambassador held an outreach event with Malaysian and Indonesian students, who were astonished to learn there is a mosque in Israel's Parliament building and that 20% of Israelis are Arab-Muslims. Ambassador Hume suggested that Israel should have several contacts in Indonesia to facilitate outreach. Ben-Dov said he was in the curious position of trying to do public diplomacy with Indonesia, but without doing it publicly. Assisting Israel -------------- ¶7. (C) The Israeli Ambassador was realistic: there is little chance that diplomatic ties can be established between the two countries anytime soon. The Israelis specifically requested advice and information exchange as they move forward with efforts with Indonesia. Mission will work closely with them as we continue to urge Indonesia to act constructively in the Middle East by engaging and recognizing all parties. HUME