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| Benjamin Netanyahu took two-hour flight detour to avoid Indonesian airspace | Benjamin Netanyahu took two-hour flight detour to avoid Indonesian airspace |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Israeli prime minister was forced to take a two and a half-hour detour en route to Australia, apparently to avoid Indonesian airspace. | The Israeli prime minister was forced to take a two and a half-hour detour en route to Australia, apparently to avoid Indonesian airspace. |
| Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Sydney at about 6.30am AEDT on Wednesday for a four-day visit, the first time an Israeli prime minister has visited Australia. | Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Sydney at about 6.30am AEDT on Wednesday for a four-day visit, the first time an Israeli prime minister has visited Australia. |
| The average direct flight from Singapore to Sydney takes about eight and a half hours; according to the flight tracking site FlightAware, Netanyahu’s total flight time was just over 11 hours as his plight path dodged Indonesia’s airspace. | The average direct flight from Singapore to Sydney takes about eight and a half hours; according to the flight tracking site FlightAware, Netanyahu’s total flight time was just over 11 hours as his plight path dodged Indonesia’s airspace. |
| A member of Netanyahu’s delegation confirmed the route to the Guardian. | A member of Netanyahu’s delegation confirmed the route to the Guardian. |
| The flight was operated by El Al, the flag carrier of Israel that is disallowed from venturing into the airspace of many Muslim nations, including Pakistan. | The flight was operated by El Al, the flag carrier of Israel that is disallowed from venturing into the airspace of many Muslim nations, including Pakistan. |
| Indonesia is home to the largest population of Muslim people in the world – the vast majority of the total population of about 260 million – and it is staunchly supportive of the Palestinian cause. | |
| It has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel, but does sanction some travel and trade. Its visa-free policy was extended to Israel and 83 other countries in December 2015 in a bid to increase tourism. | It has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel, but does sanction some travel and trade. Its visa-free policy was extended to Israel and 83 other countries in December 2015 in a bid to increase tourism. |
| In March last year Netanyahu called for diplomatic relations to be formally established with Indonesia because of the “many opportunities for bilateral cooperation”, especially in technology. | In March last year Netanyahu called for diplomatic relations to be formally established with Indonesia because of the “many opportunities for bilateral cooperation”, especially in technology. |
| According to the Times of Israel report, he said the reasons for the two countries not to have a relationship were “no longer relevant” and that they were allied against terrorism. | According to the Times of Israel report, he said the reasons for the two countries not to have a relationship were “no longer relevant” and that they were allied against terrorism. |
| He told the delegation of Indonesian journalists, visiting as guests of the Israeli foreign ministry: “I have quite a few Facebook friends who are Indonesian.” | He told the delegation of Indonesian journalists, visiting as guests of the Israeli foreign ministry: “I have quite a few Facebook friends who are Indonesian.” |
| But the Indonesian government said in response that ties with Israel would only be normalised if Palestine gained independence. | But the Indonesian government said in response that ties with Israel would only be normalised if Palestine gained independence. |
| Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung said: “The most important thing is the spirit to realise Palestinian independence”. | Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung said: “The most important thing is the spirit to realise Palestinian independence”. |