Israeli PM calls for formal ties with Indonesia

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday it was time to establish official relations between Indonesia and Israel.

"I have a few Indonesian friends on Facebook," he told a group of Indonesian journalists, who arrived in Israel as guests of Foreign Affairs Ministry.

"The time has come for official bilateral relations," Netanyahu said. "We have many opportunities to cooperate in the fields of water and technology."

He said the relations with Indonesia "must also change" after mentioning Israel's deepening ties with Africa, Latin America and Russia.

"The factors preventing official ties are no longer relevant and I hope that your visit will help with this," the Prime Minister said to the visitors.

Israel and Indonesia have no diplomatic relations but established trade and tourism ties.

In 2013, current Education Minister, then Economy Minister, Naftali Bennett visited Bali in Indonesia to attend a meeting of the World Trade Organization.

Meanwhile, ties between Indonesia and the Palestinian National Authority have been strengthening, setting the stage for a diplomatic incident two weeks ago.

On March 13, an Indonesian official was forbidden to enter Israel as she refused to meet with Israeli officials in Jerusalem before her planned visit to Ramallah in the West Bank Palestinian territories. Endit