Israel soccer team not welcome: Bali cites security

Indonesian officials have ­defended Bali’s refusal to host ­Israeli team matches for the U-20 FIFA World Cup in May, suggesting the decision was ­driven by security concerns.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster.

Indonesian officials have ­defended Bali’s refusal to host ­Israeli team matches for the U-20 FIFA World Cup in May, suggesting the decision was ­driven by concern the tourist ­island could become a fresh ­target for terrorist attacks.

Jakarta’s top football envoy will fly to Zurich this week to urge FIFA not to cancel its hosting rights for the tournament after the international football federation cancelled a scheduled group stage draw in Bali this Friday amid rising political opposition to Israel’s participation.

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has blamed the governors of Bali and Central Java for jeopardising the country’s hosting rights for the tournament – scheduled to run from May 20 to June 11 – after both said this month the Israeli team would not be permitted to play in stadiums in their provinces.

The issue has divided Muslim-majority Indonesia, a football-mad nation whose support for an independent Palestinian nation is enshrined in its constitution and which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

Indonesia had assured FIFA it would treat the Israeli youth team fairly, and many had ­assumed Hindu-majority Bali would host Israel’s matches.

But Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and a close aide to party powerbroker and former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, said opposition to Israel’s participation in the tournament was based on “humanitarian” as well as security issues.

“Why? Because Israel’s ­extremist and anti-humanity movement awakens our solidarity towards this sensitive issue. There are also efforts that threaten the security of Bali,” he told CNN Indonesia.

Mr Kristiyanto said Bali Governor Wayan Koster was “still traumatised” by the 2002 Kuta bombings and feared the Israeli team’s presence could prompt further attacks, even as Mr ­Koster hinted on Monday that he was simply complying with PDIP policy on Israel.

“We do not want anything to happen in Bali. We must have zero tolerance for anything that could create trouble in Bali,” Mr Kristiyanto said.

While he had been lobbying the Indonesian government to block Israel’s participation since its youth team qualified last July, the issue took on greater urgency after the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu came to power in November.

PSSI spokesman Arya Sinulingga questioned claims of a ­security threat, saying he was unaware of any heightened terror risk posed by Israeli’s participation and had received no briefings from the police or military. Bali police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto told The Australian the island was “safe and conducive” for all players and spectators, and police had already allotted security for the teams “so that the smallest risk could be anticipated”.

Earlier this month, National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo also issued public assurances that all tournament events, players and spectators would be safe.

A spokesman for counter-terrorism agency Densus 88 told The Australian that while he could not publicly share intelligence on Bali, “Densus is monitoring any escalation in the threat of terror attacks and will act as early as possible at the preventive stage”.

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir, also Indonesia’s Minister of State-owned Enterprises, has said he will fly to Switzerland to seek clarification from FIFA on Indonesia’s hosting rights after briefing President Joko Widodo, who has yet to comment on the furore.

Some officials have suggested a solution could lie in allowing neighbouring Singapore to host Israel’s matches, though there are growing fears Indonesia could lose its hosting role – and an automatic place in the tournament – to Qatar or Argentina, both of which have reportedly offered to step in.

While FIFA is yet to respond publicly, many in Indonesia worry the issue is spiralling out of control as political forces exploit the issue for votes ahead of the February 2024 elections.