Jakarta. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Tuesday that time constraints were what had caused President Prabowo Subianto’s microphone to get cut off in the middle of a Palestine-related speech at the United Nations.

Prabowo had joined dozens of world leaders at a UN forum that centered on the two-state solution, which calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside that of Israel. As soon as he promised that Indonesia would send peacekeeping troops, Prabowo’s microphone got cut off mid-speech, sparking online speculations over whether it was sabotage, as a similar incident had also hit Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry later clarified that the muted microphone was per standard procedure.

“There is a rule of procedure in which every country has 5 minutes to make a statement. If it is beyond 5 minutes, the [speaker’s] mic will be muted. That’s why it was inaudible in the livestream as [Mr. Prabowo’s] speech had exceeded the allotted time,” the ministry’s press department director Hartyo Harkomoyo said via text.

“Despite the mic cut-off, the attendees at the General Assembly hall could still clearly hear President Prabowo,” he said. 

Prabowo’s speech mainly centered on Palestinian independence. The retired army general also restated his plan to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, but only if they recognize Palestinian statehood. Indonesia also praised Western nations for having finally recognized the Palestinian state, saying that France, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Portugal “have taken a step on the right side of history.” 

France and Saudi Arabia had co-hosted the two-state solution talks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had to take part in the summit via virtual conference as the US government denied him a visa. Prabowo is to be the third leader to address the General Assembly begins its debate Tuesday morning New York time. 

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