January 30, 2026 | 10:01 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has urged President Prabowo Subianto to withdraw Indonesia's membership from the Board of Peace initiated by the United States. MUI Vice Chair Cholil Nafis conveyed this through his personal social media account on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Cholil stated that Indonesia's decision to join the Board of Peace is not in favor of Palestine. He emphasized that the international body was founded by U.S. President Donald Trump and includes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Cholil emphasized, "Because Trump initiated it and Netanyahu, who clearly colonizes, is a member, and there is no Palestine," as quoted from MUI's official statement.
Cholil Nafis raised another concern about Indonesia's involvement in the Board of Peace: the US$1 billion membership fee. "Strangely, Indonesia is still being charged for membership. It would be best if Pak Prabowo withdrew," said Cholil.
Indonesia officially joined the Board of Peace initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 22, 2026. President Prabowo Subianto signed the peace charter during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Regarding the membership fee, Foreign Minister Sugiono revealed that President Prabowo had decided to participate. However, Sugiono did not explicitly state whether or not Indonesia would pay the levy.
Meanwhile, MUI's Chair of the Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Division, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, considers the Board of Peace as a real form of neocolonialism. MUI emphasizes that the issue of Palestine is not just a regular conflict but a matter of colonization, fundamental rights usurpation, crimes, and systematic violations of international humanitarian law.
Sudarnoto stressed that MUI rejects 'pseudo-peace' as arranged by U.S. President Donald Trump because it is not based on justice. In addition, MUI rejects peace initiatives that do not explicitly recognize Palestine as an occupied nation and do not make ending the Israeli occupation a primary prerequisite.
According to Sudarnoto, this could perpetuate colonization in the guise of peace. "MUI perceives a very serious structural problem in the Board of Peace. Israel's involvement as an equal member, rather than as an occupying power that should be held accountable, is a fundamental flaw," said Sudarnoto.
He believes that this model could shift the issue from justice and independence to merely managing regional conflict and stability.
However, MUI appreciates the Indonesian government's intention to contribute to global peace. "But MUI also warns that involvement without clear red lines may make Indonesia morally complicit in a scheme that actually harms the struggle for Palestinian independence," he said.
MUI emphasizes that, in the Islamic view and universal human values, any form of colonization is an injustice that must be ended.
True peace, Sudarnoto said, can only be achieved when the rights, dignity, and sovereignty of the Palestinian people are fully restored. "The Board of Peace scheme does not indicate the direction of genuine peace," he stated.
Read: Indonesia: US$1bn 'Voluntary' Board of Peace Fee to Fund Gaza Reconstruction
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