MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Lebanon, has shed light on the complex nature of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Hajriyanto, who previously served as Chairperson of Muhammadiyah from 2020 to 2022, spoke at a National Webinar titled “Dynamics of International Political Economy in the Midst of the Middle East Conflict and Its Impact on the Indonesian Economy,” held by Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (UHAMKA), Jakarta on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
During his talk, Hajriyanto argued that the Middle East conflict is not simply a war between two nations, but rather a larger geopolitical struggle. He referred to it as a “proxy war” because major world powers are indirectly involved by supporting opposing sides in the conflict.
The escalation of violence began with the Palestine-Israel war in October 2023. This war resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, claiming nearly 40,000 lives and causing widespread injuries and infrastructure destruction.
Hajriyanto explained that the major world powers are primarily Western countries, led by the United States. These countries are backing Israel. On the other side, regional powers like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are supporting Palestine.
“Each of these major powers has its own allies within the Middle East region, who act as proxies in the conflict. This web of alliances is a significant factor in why the conflict has become so complex and intractable,” said Hajriyanto.
The impact of the Middle East conflict extends far beyond the immediate region. Hajriyanto highlighted the economic repercussions being felt even in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
“Despite its geographical distance, Indonesia is not immune to the global effects of the conflict,” said Hajriyanto. He pointed to the weakening of the Indonesian Rupiah against the US Dollar as a clear example of the economic impact. This currency depreciation is also being experienced by other countries in the region, such as Lebanon and Syria.
The human cost of the conflict is equally concerning. Hajriyanto spoke about the severe economic hardship in Gaza, where 78% of the infrastructure has been destroyed.
“The resulting poverty crisis means that many civil servants, including soldiers and police officers, struggle to afford even basic necessities,” said Hajriyanto.
Beyond the economic impact, the war in the Middle East is also causing instability in various countries around the world. This instability is not solely due to the actions of governments, but also involves non-state actors. These include groups like Hezbollah, Houthi, and Hamas, who are directly engaged in fighting against Israel.
The conflict has also sparked large-scale protests in European and Western countries. These protests are driven by non-state actors, such as student groups who demonstrate their support and sympathy for the Palestinians in Gaza. Similar political unrest is also occurring in the United States.
