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Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama Demands Chairman’s Resignation After Invitation to Pro‑Israel Scholar

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation, has demanded the resignation of chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf after he invited U.S. scholar Peter Berkowitz—known for pro‑Israel commentary—to speak at an internal event in August. The leadership has set a three‑day deadline, citing the controversial invitation and separate allegations of financial mismanagement. Staquf apologised for the oversight, while NU leaders have called for calm as senior officials address the dispute internally.

02:11 PM, 11/22/2025Politics
Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama Demands Chairman’s Resignation After Invitation to Pro‑Israel Scholar

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation with roughly 100 million members and affiliates, has asked its chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf, to resign after he invited an American scholar known for publicly defending Israel to speak at an internal event earlier this year. The leadership has given Staquf a three‑day deadline to step down or face removal, citing the guest invitation and separate allegations of financial mismanagement.

NU officials said the controversy centers on the August seminar at which Peter Berkowitz, a former U.S. State Department official and commentator, addressed participants. Berkowitz has published opinion pieces opposing claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and arguing that formal recognition of a Palestinian state would harm prospects for security and peace.

Speaking on the situation, NU representative Najib Azca linked calls for Staquf’s resignation to the decision to invite Berkowitz and to concerns among members about the speaker’s views. Staquf has apologised, saying the speaker’s background was not checked carefully and describing the invitation as an oversight.

NU Secretary‑General Yusuf Saifullah urged members to remain calm and not respond to potentially misleading reports while senior leaders manage the matter through internal procedures. He asked the organisation’s membership to maintain a constructive spirit as the issue is addressed.

Context

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim‑majority country, has long condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, supports a two‑state solution and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Those positions have made the invitation of a pro‑Israel commentator especially sensitive among NU’s broad membership.

The leadership dispute highlights tensions within large faith-based organisations when international politics intersect with internal programming and governance. NU’s next steps—whether Staquf will resign, be removed, or remain and face internal review—will be closely watched both domestically and by observers of Muslim and international affairs.

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