Indonesia reportedly willing to normalise ties with Israel in bid to join OECD

Indonesia is willing to normalise relations with Israel in exchange for Israeli approval of its request to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to a report in Israel's Ynet News on Thursday. 

Additions of new countries to the intergovernmental organisation require unanimous approval from all 38 current member states. 

Israel, an OECD member, has opposed Indonesia joining due to the lack of formal relations and Jakarta's past criticisms of Israeli actions. 

Three months of negotiations have taken place between the two countries, overseen on the Israeli side by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Ynet reported.

During the talks, Katz cited Indonesia's criticisms of Israel since war broke out in Gaza on 7 October, and Jakarta's support of South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice, which accused Israel of committing genocide in the enclave. 

Read more: Indonesia reportedly willing to normalise ties with Israel in bid to join OECD