Jakarta, May 29 -- Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has denied a news report claiming Indonesia held secret negotiations with Israel regarding its accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The report by Israeli news outlet Ynet states that Indonesia and Israel held the negotiations, which sought to "normalize" relations in return for Israel's support for Indonesia's OECD membership bid, in 2024.

"There was never such a meeting," Mahendra said here on Thursday.

The Israeli media's claim that the two countries sought to "normalize" relations is incorrect, since Indonesia and Israel do not enjoy any diplomatic relations, he added.

The mini...