Sun Nov 23 04:16:36 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

Summary:

Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), is demanding the resignation of its chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf, due to his invitation of a pro-Israel U.S. scholar, Peter Berkowitz, to an internal event in August. NU also cited alleged financial mismanagement as a reason for his ouster. Staquf has refused to resign, claiming that the leaders calling for his removal lack the authority to do so. He has apologized for inviting Berkowitz, citing it as an oversight and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. The controversy highlights the sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation with no diplomatic relations with Israel.

News Article:

Indonesia’s Biggest Islamic Body Calls for Chairman’s Resignation Over Pro-Israel Invitation

JAKARTA – Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization and the world’s biggest with around 100 million members, is embroiled in internal turmoil. The organization has demanded the resignation of its Chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf, giving him a three-day ultimatum to step down or face removal.

The controversy stems from Staquf’s invitation to Peter Berkowitz, a U.S. scholar known for his support of Israel, to an internal NU event in August. This, coupled with allegations of financial mismanagement, has triggered the call for his resignation.

Meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters indicate that NU leadership believes Staquf’s invitation of someone “affiliated with an International Zionism network” was unacceptable.

Staquf, who has been chairman since 2021, has refused to resign, stating that he was appointed for a five-year term and that the leaders calling for his removal lack the authority to do so. He has since apologized for inviting Berkowitz, calling it an oversight due to insufficient background checks, and reiterated his condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

NU Deputy Secretary General Najib Azca confirmed the Berkowitz invitation as the central issue, pointing to Berkowitz’s pro-Israel writings and defense of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has consistently condemned Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories and advocates for a two-state solution. The nation maintains no diplomatic ties with Israel. The situation highlights the deep-seated sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within Indonesian society. The future of Staquf’s leadership and the potential ramifications for NU remain to be seen.

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