No, Israel Is Not a Friend of West Papua
. No, Israel Is Not a Friend of West Papua West Papua’s struggle for independence must not rely on presumed anti-Indonesia sentiment among other nations, particularly Israel. The claim circulating on social media that Israel’s reported partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will help secure West Papua’s independence is a political illusion that should be treated with caution. In fact, Israel has yet to demonstrate any genuine commitment to supporting West Papua’s right to self-determination or shaping its political future. Furthermore, there is no publicly available evidence to suggest that Israel intends to play such a role. Diplomacy Is Not Liberation The idea that Israel might retaliate against Indonesia’s support for Palestinian independence by backing West Papua’s independence may sound appealing, but it remains pure speculation. Israel’s interest in the Pacific may instead lie in areas such as water management, desalination, agriculture, climate adaptation, and technolo...
