In Diplomatic Shift, Indonesia to Host Israeli Athletes for World Gymnastics Championship
Two weeks after Israel’s resounding military victory over Iran and amid mounting speculation of normalization deals with former adversaries—including Syria and Lebanon—another surprising development has emerged: Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, is opening its doors to Israeli athletes.
In a significant policy reversal, Indonesia has formally notified the Israeli Gymnastics Federation that Israeli competitors will be welcomed at the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, scheduled for three months from now.
The move comes just two years after Indonesia barred Israeli players from the Under-20 FIFA World Cup it was slated to host—prompting FIFA to strip the nation of hosting rights and relocate the tournament to Argentina.
This time, however, the tone is markedly different.
A Stage for Change?
Among the potential athletes is Israeli Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat, who has previously dazzled at global competitions, clinching gold in Tokyo, silver in Paris, and a world championship in floor exercise.
Indonesia still does not hold formal diplomatic relations with Israel, but its decision to allow participation—despite political sensitivities—signals a potential thaw and a growing recognition of sports diplomacy as a neutral pathway to broader regional engagement.
As momentum builds toward new normalization talks across the Muslim world, this gesture from Jakarta has sparked a compelling question in global media and diplomatic circles alike:
Could the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah,” soon echo across Indonesian soil?
