Bali Governor Rejects Israel Team in the World Beach Games 2023

Liputan6.com, Bali - Local sports community must be prepared for another headache after the cancellation of the World Cup U-20 in Indonesia. FIFA decided to remove Indonesia as the host of the football event following anti-Israel statements from governors of Bali and Middle Java Provinces.

Bali Governor I Way Koster now has given a similar statement to reject the Israel team from the ANOC World Beach Games which will be held in Bali.

"I still reject Israel's presence in Bali, including in the upcoming ANOC World Beach Games," said Governor I Wayan Koster.

The basis of his rejection is a special regulation of the Ministry of Affairs which prohibits the singing of Israel's national anthem, flag, and other attributes.

The Governor of Bali also cites the constitution which rejects any form of invasion against other countries, although Russian tourists have a heavy presence in Bali. Russia is currently invading Ukraine and has annexed four regions there.

World Cup U-20 Fiasco

Previously, I Wayan Koster also announced the rejection to welcome the Israel National Team in his province for the World Cup U-20. Governor of Middle Java Ganjar Pranowo gave a similar public statement. 

Not long after that, FIFA abruptly cancelled the drawing event in Bali, and then removed Indonesia as the host. 

Social media users unleashed their anger at Ganjar Pranowo's Instagram after the cancellation. One of Ganjar's Instagram posts received over three hundred thousand comments, most of them expressing their indignation at Ganjar for mixing football and politics. 

The Bali Governor has largely avoided netizens' anger as he is not an active social media user.

During an interview with journalist Najwa Shihab, Ganjar also expressed his plan to take measure against Israel in ANOC World Beach Games, and he is in communication with the Bali Governor. However, Ganjar does not give specifics about his plan.

The two governors are members of Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan or PDI-P). President Joko Widodo is also the member of the same party.

Governor Ganjar Pranowo said he felt sorry for the players of World Cup U-20, but he did not regret his decision to reject Israel. He justified his action by citing the constitution and the regulation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

"I never regret because that was the decision I had to take," said Ganjar in an interview with Najwa Shihab.

He said that his party has political calculation in rejecting Israel. 

But only Governor Ganjar and Governor I Wayan Koster who publicly rejected the Israel National Team in their regions. Other politicians from PDI-P are mostly quiet about the issue.

President Joko Widodo never rejected the Israel team and he asked the people to separate between politics and sports. The chairwoman of the PDI-Perjuangan, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, also did not give any public statement.

Governor Ganjar insists, however, that his rejection was in line with the party, although he has admitted never talked to President Widodo or former president Megawati about this issue.

Kori Sofianty contributed to this report.