In a significant development that will shape the future of Gaza&#8217;s stability, Indonesia and Azerbaijan have emerged as the leading candidates to spearhead the International Stabilization Force (ISF) set to deploy in Gaza, according to <a href="https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/23/indonesia-and-azerbaijan-to-lead-gaza-stabilization-force/">Israel HaYom</a>.
This ISF is a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing Gaza conflict, demilitarizing the region, and paving the way for reconstruction. The force is expected to number in the tens of thousands and will play a critical role in stabilizing Gaza while Israeli forces stage a gradual withdrawal.
The inclusion of Indonesia and Azerbaijan, both Muslim-majority nations, carries considerable geopolitical weight. Indonesia boasts a long history of contributing to international peacekeeping missions, including the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), lending valuable experience to this effort. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, maintains <a href="https://besacenter.org/azerbaijan-one-of-the-pillars-of-israels-regional-security/">robust security ties</a> with Israel, encompassing energy, defense, and intelligence cooperation developed over decades. Israel has deep trust in Azerbaijan&#8217;s capabilities, bolstered by the pivotal role Israeli military technology played in Azerbaijan&#8217;s recent conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh wars. Together, these countries form an unlikely yet strategically significant coalition to ensure Gaza’s security and stability.
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The decision to appoint Indonesian and Azerbaijani troops follows Israel’s firm rejection of Turkish forces&#8217; participation, a stance accepted by the United States. This move underscores complicated regional dynamics, as Turkey has historically positioned itself as a protector of Palestinian interests. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also declined involvement, while Qatar was never seriously considered for the force. President Trump has made clear that no American combat troops will enter Gaza, limiting U.S. involvement to coordination and advisory roles.
Negotiations are ongoing to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution to legitimize the ISF&#8217;s deployment, a condition strongly insisted upon by Indonesia. However, Israel is cautious of Security Council resolutions due to past experiences where enforcement proved lacking and due to the added friction over proposals to recognize a Palestinian state within the resolution — something Israel firmly opposes. Despite skepticism about the force’s ultimate effectiveness and the resolution passing, the Israeli defense establishment has been instructed to give the plan a chance, with many anticipating that further military action against Hamas may become necessary.
A key unresolved issue is the extent of operational freedom the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will retain to act against Hamas threats during the international force’s presence, paralleling their current autonomy in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
This situation showcases a historic confluence: Indonesia, a major Muslim country advocating for Palestinian independence while recognizing Israel’s security needs, and Azerbaijan, a strategic Israeli ally deeply involved in regional security vis-à-vis Iran, are joining forces to stabilize Gaza. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto encapsulated this nuanced stance when he <a href="https://setkab.go.id/en/president-prabowo-subianto-calls-for-two-state-solution-and-urgent-gaza-aid-at-unga/?TSPD_101_R0=08978305a1ab200033a0809d2ab276ad463828c4f94ec1784ce9edc469c89b3dbac3f7b4bda5199008d2194fa7143000d8829ccbeb3556e765f230a293ee0977703aefa48d4b3a8a937ad62ff063e99e53f12638b8c4369f3b8adc36a72ddde5">declared</a> at the UN that peace requires that &#8220;we must also recognize and guarantee the safety and security of Israel.&#8221;
The Israel-Azerbaijan partnership is extensive, spanning energy (Azerbaijan supplies over half of Israel&#8217;s oil needs), defense (Israel is Azerbaijan’s top arms supplier), intelligence sharing, and diplomatic collaboration. Azerbaijan’s geopolitical position near Iran also adds a layer of regional complexity to this partnership.
The Indo-Azeri leadership of the ISF marks a bold and pragmatic approach to one of the most volatile conflict zones in the world.

MixCollage-24-Oct-2025-11-00-AM-9923

Indonesia And Azerbaijan Expected To Spearhead Operations In Stabilizing Gaza

Report: Indonesia, Azerbaijan Will Send Forces To Deploy In Gaza

Azerbaijan

Gaza

Indonesia

A group of Arab states on Monday publicly backed President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and create a pathway for a Palestinian state.
The governments of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt released a joint statement on Monday backing the plan after Trump rolled it out in a White House event alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The joint statement of the Arab states was signed by the foreign minister of each.
The Arab states “welcome President Donald J Trump&#8217;s leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace,” the joint statement said.
“The ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank,” the statement continued.
“The ministers affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalizing the agreement and ensuring its implementation, in a manner that ensures peace, security, and stability for the peoples of the region,” it said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt. <a href="https://t.co/XDqgHxNkGd">pic.twitter.com/XDqgHxNkGd</a>
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSAmofaEN/status/1972766033623814282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump announced the plan on Monday, celebrating “a historic day for peace.” The president said that, in addition to providing a pathway to peace between Israel and Gaza and laying the groundwork for a Palestinian state, the framework could create “eternal peace in the Middle East.”
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The wide support for the agreement among Arab states places additional pressure on Hamas to agree to the deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the terror group, and others like it, would be demilitarized, dismantled, and blocked from having administrative control over the Gaza Strip.
“If Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible – they’re the only one left, everyone else has accepted it – but I have a feeling we’re going to have a positive answer. But if not, you know, Bibi, you’d have our full backing to do what you have to do,” said Trump.
Netanyahu echoed Trump’s threat in remarks following the U.S. president.
“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it, and then, basically, do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done,” the prime minister said.

Donald Trump, Mohammed bin Salman

Arab States Line Up Behind Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

Donald Trump

Egypt

Global Politics

Jordan

Pakistan

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

World

President Donald Trump announced two trade deals Tuesday, continuing his streak of securing open markets for exported American goods while imposing strapping tariffs on Philippine and Indonesian goods.
&#8220;It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs,&#8221; Trump said in a TruthSocial <a href="https://x.com/PressSec/status/1947711882837577786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> following his meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Trump quickly followed up with details about a massive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-lands-indonesia-trade-deal-as-e-u-readies-retaliation?author=Reuters&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Lands+Indonesia+Trade+Deal+As+E.U.+Readies+Retaliation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade deal</a> with the republic of Indonesia made last week.
&#8220;It is agreed that Indonesia will be Open Market to American Industrial and Tech Products, and Agricultural goods, by eliminating 99% of their Tariff Barriers,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1947739044936392715" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
These deals come after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bessent-trump-will-revive-foreign-tariffs-if-countries-dont-move-along-by-august-1?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Bessent%3A+Trump+Will+Revive+Foreign+Tariffs+If+Countries+Don%E2%80%99t+%E2%80%98Move+Along%E2%80%99+By+August+1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> several countries to come to the table by August 1st or face increased tariff rates.
American producers will now have access to the Philippine market completely free from tariffs, Trump said. At the same time, all Philippine imports will carry a 19% tariff — a slight reduction from the threatened 20% tariff.
The <a href="https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/southeast-asia-pacific/philippines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philippines</a> — a country with about a third of the population of the United States — ran roughly a $5 billion trade imbalance in 2024, importing $9.3 billion in U.S. goods while exporting $14.2 billion worth of goods to the United States.
The United States imports a vast amount of electronic circuits and office machine parts from the Philippines, while exporting mostly foodstuffs and integrated circuits to the Southeast Asian country, according to a 2023 <a href="https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/usa/partner/phl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Trump recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-announces-major-trade-deal-with-vietnam-days-before-tariff-increases?author=Sam+Korkus&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Announces+Major+Trade+Deal+With+Vietnam+Days+Before+Tariff+Increases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a similar trade deal with Vietnam, clinching an open market for American goods while all imported Vietnamese goods will carry a 20% tariff.
Trump also floated continued military collaboration with the Philippines. &#8220;In addition,&#8221; Trump wrote, &#8220;we will work together Militarily.&#8221;
The Philippines sits in a strategic location near China and has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/philippines-says-military-leaders-working-set-up-one-theatre-approach-east-south-2025-06-30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clashed</a> with the Chinese in recent memory.
In a Monday meeting between Marcos and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the latter <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4250755/hegseth-philippine-president-meet-to-advance-deterrence-in-indo-pacific/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> &#8220;Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today. … Together, we remain committed to the mutual defense treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard, anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.&#8221;
Hegseth added that, &#8220;We do not seek confrontation, but we are and will be ready and resolute.&#8221;
Trump praised Marcos, saying that &#8220;It was a Great Honor to be with the President. He is Highly Respected in his Country, as he should be. He is also a very good, and tough, negotiator. We extend our warmest regards to the wonderful people of The Philippines!&#8221;

President Trump Hosts Phillipines President Marcos At The White House

WINNING: Trump Secures Trade Deals In Philippines And Indonesia

Free Trade

Philippines

Tariffs

President Donald Trump on Tuesday revealed the details of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-lands-indonesia-trade-deal-as-e-u-readies-retaliation">trade deal</a> with Indonesia that was announced last week, calling the agreement a &#8220;HUGE WIN for our Automakers, Tech Companies, Workers, Farmers, Ranchers, and Manufacturers.&#8221;
Trump said the trade deal wipes out &#8220;99%&#8221; of Indonesia&#8217;s trade barrier, opening the market of the fourth most populous nation in the world for American-made products.
&#8220;The United States of America will now sell American Made products to Indonesia at a Tariff Rate of ZERO, while Indonesia will pay 19% on all of their products coming into the U.S.A. — The Best Market in the World!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114898507608732258">posted</a> on Truth Social.
The president also said that Indonesia agreed to &#8220;supply the United States with their precious Critical Minerals, as well as sign BIG Deals, worth Tens of Billions of Dollars, to purchase Boeing Aircraft, American Farm products, and American Energy.&#8221;
Indonesia&#8217;s trade with the United States has been growing in recent years, totaling around $40 billion last year, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-lands-indonesia-trade-deal-as-e-u-readies-retaliation">according</a> to Reuters. The biggest Indonesian products imported to the United States are palm oil, furniture, rubber, textiles, and electronics, according to <a href="https://www.importglobals.com/blog/the-key-imported-and-exported-products-of-indonesia-with-united-states#:~:text=Export%20Data%20are%2C-,1.,2023%20%2D%20400%20million%20US%20dollars.">Import Globals</a>. Indonesia also sends a significant amount of precious metals to the United States, with precious metal imports totaling around $400 million in 2023.
While Indonesia will pay a 19% tariff on most products, a Trump administration official told reporters that products made in Indonesia containing a certain percentage of materials from nonmarket economies such as Russia, China, and Vietnam would be hit with a 40% tariff, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/politics/trump-indonesia-trade-deal.html">reported</a>.
The White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-the-united-states-and-indonesia-reach-historic-trade-deal/">said</a> that under the deal, Indonesia will exempt &#8220;U.S. companies and originating goods from local content requirements&#8221; and accept American-made vehicles that are &#8220;built to U.S. federal motor vehicle safety and emissions standards.&#8221; The Southeast Asian country also agreed to &#8220;address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Indonesian market.&#8221;
On Tuesday, Trump also <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114898069194751986">announced</a> a similar trade deal with the Philippines, saying the island country will pay a 19% tariff to export products to the American market, while the United States will pay no tariff to send products to the Philippines. The deal with the Philippines also included an agreement to &#8220;work together Militarily,&#8221; according to Trump.

‘HUGE WIN’: Trump Reveals Details Of Trade Deal With Indonesia

trade

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a trade deal with Indonesia, the latest pact in a bid to cement better terms with trading partners and reduce a massive trade deficit, even as the European Union readied retaliatory measures should talks between Washington and its top trading partner fail.
&#8220;Great deal, for everybody, just made with Indonesia. I dealt directly with their highly respected President. DETAILS TO FOLLOW!!!&#8221; Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Indonesia&#8217;s total trade with the United States — totalling just under $40 billion in 2024 — does not rank in the top 15, but it has been growing. U.S. exports to Indonesia rose 3.7% last year, while imports from there were up 4.8%, leaving the U.S. with a goods trade deficit of nearly $18 billion.
The top U.S. import categories from Indonesia, according to U.S. Census Bureau data retrieved on the International Trade Centre&#8217;s TradeMap tool, last year were palm oil, electronics equipment including data routers and switches, footwear, car tires, natural rubber, and frozen shrimp.
Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official with Indonesia&#8217;s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, told Reuters in a text message: &#8220;We are preparing a joint statement between U.S. and Indonesia that will explain the size of reciprocal tariff for Indonesia including the tariff deal, non-tariff and commercial arrangements. We will inform (the public) soon.&#8221;
Trump had threatened the southeast Asian country with a 32% tariff rate effective August 1 in a letter sent to its president last week.
Trump sent similar letters to roughly two dozen trading partners this month, including Canada, Japan, and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper.
The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries time to negotiate agreements that could lower the threatened tariffs. Some investors and economists have also noted Trump&#8217;s pattern of backing off his tariff threats.
Since launching his tariff policy, Trump has clinched only a few deals despite his team touting an effort to bring home &#8220;90 deals in 90 days.&#8221; So far, framework agreements have been reached with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, and an interim deal has been struck with China to forestall the steepest of Trump&#8217;s tariffs while negotiations continue between Washington and Beijing.
<h3>E.U. READIES RETALIATION</h3>
The breakthrough with Indonesia came as the European Commission, the E.U.&#8217;s governing body, gets set to target 72 billion euros ($84.1 billion) worth of U.S. goods — from Boeing aircraft and bourbon whiskey to cars — for possible tariffs if trade talks with Washington fail.
Trump is threatening a 30% tariff on imports from the E.U. from August 1, a level European officials say is unacceptable and would end normal trade between two of the world&#8217;s largest markets.
The list, sent to E.U. member states and seen by Reuters on Tuesday, pre-dates Trump&#8217;s move over the weekend to ramp up pressure on the 27-nation bloc and responds instead to U.S. duties on cars and car parts and a 10% baseline tariff.
The package also covers chemicals, medical devices, electrical and precision equipment as well as agriculture and food products — a range of fruits and vegetables, along with wine, beer, and spirits &#8211; valued at 6.35 billion euros.
Following a meeting of E.U. ministers in Brussels on Monday, officials said they were still seeking a deal to avoid Trump&#8217;s heavy tariff blow.
But E.U. trade chief Maros Sefcovic said those at the meeting expressed unprecedented resolve to protect E.U. businesses using European countermeasures if negotiations with Washington fail to produce a deal.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels and David Lawder in Washington; Additional reporting by Richard Lough in Paris; Amanda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo in Jakarta; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

A drone view shows stacks of containers at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta

Trump Lands Indonesia Trade Deal As E.U. Readies Retaliation

Economy

Europe

European Union

Trade War

Trump Administration

Israel is reportedly set to normalize relations with Indonesia following months of secret talks between the two countries and an economic organization.
Israeli news publication Ynet <a href="https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/yokra13880480">reported</a> that the talks, which happened over three months, ended with an agreement that Indonesia would establish official relations with Israel in exchange for Israel ending its opposition to Indonesia joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which has 38 member nations.
The process is expected to play out in a process that will take over two years, the report said.
OECD Secretary-General Matthias Korman said in a recent letter to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz that if Indonesia wanted to join the OECD that all existing member nations, including Israel, would have to agree to it. According to a translation of the report, Indonesia&#8217;s acceptance would only happen under the &#8220;explicit condition that Indonesia maintain diplomatic relations with all members of the organization&#8221; before the decision was made on whether to accept the country.
Katz reportedly responded to the letter by celebrating the breakthrough, according to the translation: &#8220;I share your expectation that this process will be a change for Indonesia, as I expect a positive change in its policy towards Israel, and in particular a renunciation of the discriminatory policy towards Israel, towards the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the parties.&#8221;
The Times of Israel <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-indonesia-to-normalize-ties-with-israel-in-exchange-for-jerusalem-supporting-its-entry-into-oecd/">reported</a> that Israel was already in the process of normalizing relations with Indonesia before the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group murdered 1,200 people on October 7.
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The news comes after Indonesia participated in an airdrop of aid to Gaza on Tuesday, the report added, noting that it was &#8220;apparently&#8221; the first time that an Indonesian aircraft has ever flown through Israeli airspace.
During the Trump administration, Israel normalized relations with four nations under the Abraham Accords, including Morocco, Bahrain, U.A.E., and Sudan.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-peace-deal-between-israel-saudi-arabia-will-still-happen">Graham: Peace Deal Between Israel, Saudi Arabia Will Still Happen</a>

2023 Summer Universiade – Opening Ceremony

World’s Largest Muslim Country Agrees To Normalize Relations With Israel: Report

Israel

A Chicago woman who helped kill her mother and stuff her body into a suitcase while on vacation on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali has been sentenced.
Heather Mack, 27, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woman-who-helped-kill-mother-stuff-body-in-suitcase-pleads-guilty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pleaded guilty</a> last June to her role in the 2014 murder of her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack. On Wednesday, Mack was sentenced to 26 years in prison, the Chicago Tribune <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-heather-mack-bali-suitcase-murder-federal-sentencing-20240117-xg5qkr6c35fydhcocfa4qbn7ym-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Mack, who was 18 and pregnant at the time of her mother’s murder, was convicted of the crime in Indonesia in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/heather-mack-convicted-bali-killing-mom-stuffing-body-suitcase-pleads-rcna89740?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&amp;_branch_match_id=1133745504221936325&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9YPLi7MLgqpMHR3TAIA5%2Fgl9SQAAAA%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last year. After serving seven years for the crime, she was deported back to the U.S. and immediately arrested by U.S. authorities.
Mack covered her mother’s mouth while her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, beat Sheila von Wiese-Mack to death with a fruit bowl, prosecutors said. Mack has since given birth to Schaefer’s baby, while Schaefer remains in Indonesia serving an 18-year sentence for the murder. He is also charged in the U.S. for the crime.
She had previously pleaded not guilty but changed her plea on Friday to guilty on one count of conspiracy to kill a U.S. national. Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, Mack reportedly spoke calmly while replying to the judge.
Mack and her mother were said to have a troubled relationship, with police getting called to their Oak Park, Illinois, home numerous times, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-indonesia-united-states-bali-4cd4aa040220b88a96e5e0f99a978064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> in 2021. On the day of Wiese-Mack’s murder, Mack and Schaefer were seen on hotel surveillance cameras arguing with Mack’s mother in the hotel lobby just before the crime.
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She reportedly carried out the murder to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund.
Robert Bibbs, Schaefer’s cousin, pleaded guilty in 2016 to helping plan the murder in exchange for $50,000 from Mack’s inheritance. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Before Mack was convicted in Indonesia, she gave birth to her and Schaefer’s daughter, Stella. The girl spent the first two years of her life living in a jail cell with her mother before Mack gave custody to an Australian woman until she would be released from prison. Stella was six years old when Mack was arrested in the U.S. She is now in the care of a relative after a custody battle, NBC reported.
In 2021, after Mack was arrested in the U.S., her attorney Brian Claypool <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-indonesia-united-states-conspiracy-indictments-6319aa94cf7a463355a800c7ad93893e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the AP that the charges were “clearly a witch hunt” brought about by public pressure after Mack was released from the Indonesian prison.
Initial reporting on the crime garnered international attention due in part to <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bali-heather-mack-trial-transcript-met-20150705-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pictures of the suitcase</a> that held Wiese-Mack’s body, which appeared too small to hold the body of an adult woman.

Heather Mack

Chicago Woman Who Helped Kill Mother, Stuff Body In Suitcase, Learns Her Fate

Heather Mack, Who Helped Kill Mother, Stuff Body In Suitcase, Learns Her Fate

Chicago

Crime

Murder

U.S.

A Chicago woman pleaded guilty to helping kill her mother in 2014 while on vacation on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali.
Heather Mack, who was 18 and pregnant at the time of her mother’s murder, was convicted of the crime in Indonesia in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/heather-mack-convicted-bali-killing-mom-stuffing-body-suitcase-pleads-rcna89740?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&amp;_branch_match_id=1133745504221936325&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9YPLi7MLgqpMHR3TAIA5%2Fgl9SQAAAA%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. After serving seven years for the crime, she was deported back to the U.S. and immediately arrested by U.S. authorities.
Mack covered her mother’s mouth while her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, beat Sheila von Wiese-Mack to death with a fruit bowl, prosecutors said. Mack has since given birth to Schaefer’s baby, while Schaefer remains in Indonesia serving an 18-year sentence for the murder. He is also charged in the U.S. for the crime.
She had previously pleaded not guilty but changed her plea on Friday to guilty on one count of conspiracy to kill a U.S. national. Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, Mack reportedly spoke calmly while replying to the judge.
Mack and her mother were said to have a troubled relationship, with police getting called to their Oak Park, Illinois, home numerous times, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-indonesia-united-states-bali-4cd4aa040220b88a96e5e0f99a978064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. On the day of Wiese-Mack’s murder, Mack and Schaefer were seen on hotel surveillance cameras arguing with Mack’s mother in the hotel lobby just before the crime.
She reportedly carried out the murder to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund.
Robert Bibbs, Schaefer’s cousin, pleaded guilty in 2016 to helping plan the murder in exchange for $50,000 from Mack’s inheritance. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.
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Before Mack was convicted in Indonesia, she gave birth to her and Schaefer’s daughter, Stella. The girl spent the first two years of her life living in a jail cell with her mother before Mack gave custody to an Australian woman until she would be released from prison. Stella was six years old when Mack was arrested in the U.S. She is now in the care of a relative after a custody battle, NBC reported.
In 2021, after Mack was arrested in the U.S., her attorney Brian Claypool <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-indonesia-united-states-conspiracy-indictments-6319aa94cf7a463355a800c7ad93893e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the AP that the charges were “clearly a witch hunt” brought about by public pressure after Mack was released from the Indonesian prison.
Initial reporting on the crime garnered international attention due in part to <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bali-heather-mack-trial-transcript-met-20150705-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pictures of the suitcase</a> that held Wiese-Mack’s body, which appeared too small to hold the body of an adult woman.

Woman Who Helped Kill Mother, Stuff Body In Suitcase Pleads Guilty

A New Zealand pilot was abducted last week by rebels in the West Papua province of Indonesia after he landed his aircraft in the remote region of Nduga.
Philip Mehrtens, 37, was a pilot for Indonesian airline company Susi when he was captured on February 7 by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), an armed branch of the Free Papua Movement, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/kidnapped-new-zealand-pilot-phillip-mehrtens-is-safe-papua-separatist-rebels/">reported</a>. The separatist group released photos and videos of Mehrtens on Tuesday, held at gunpoint, with a warning that he would only stay “safe” if Indonesian authorities refrain from retaliating.
The separatists set fire to the small plane flown by Mehrtens, which contained six people when it was captured, before taking him hostage. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the rebels, sent <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rebellions-and-uprisings-indonesia-fires-6e77f64bfdc7bfb47bd27b7ddf2e1f9d">a statement</a> to the Associated Press saying Mehrtens had been taken hostage as part of their liberation movement, but that the other five people on board the plane had been released since they were indigenous Papuans.
“We have taken the pilot hostage and we are bringing him out,” Sambom said in the statement. “We will never release the pilot we are holding hostage unless Indonesia recognizes and frees Papua from Indonesian colonialism.”
On Thursday, The Jakarta Post <a href="https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/02/17/tni-ready-for-operation-to-free-new-zealand-pilot-if-talks-fail.html">reported</a> that Papua police announced a “law enforcement operation” was in the works to free Mehrtens if negotiations for his safe release fell through.
Cendrawasih Military Command Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Mustafa reportedly said that a team of local politicians is expected to make contact with the TPNPB to negotiate for Mehrtens’ release, after figuring out where he was being kept based on photos from the separatist group.
“We want everyone to pray that we can finish the job without causing another incident, [that] we can get the pilot released and everything goes back to normal,” Papua Police Chief Inspector Matthius Fakhiri said, according to the outlet.
In a video <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-locate-where-kiwi-pilot-is-being-held-in-papua-and-are-sending-team/HRQ5CQVBOJGEBMT4VSZ3PKGJXQ/">sent to Radio New Zealand</a>, Mehrtens is seen wearing a denim jacket and a Free Papua T-shirt, surrounded by men holding guns. The video also shows some men holding bows and arrows.
“The Papuan military that has taken me captive to fight for Papuan independence, they ask for the Indonesian military to go home to Indonesia and if not, I will remain captive for my life,” Mehrtens says in the video.
“Indonesia needs to recognize Papuan independence,” he added.
The New Zealand Herald <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-locate-where-kiwi-pilot-is-being-held-in-papua-and-are-sending-team/HRQ5CQVBOJGEBMT4VSZ3PKGJXQ/">reported</a> that three New Zealand diplomats and two staff members from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived in the capital of Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province to monitor the situation with Mehrtens.

Midsection Of Woman Tied Up With Rope On Chair In Room

A New Zealand Pilot Is Being Held Captive By A Papua Separatist Group

New Zealand

President Joe Biden wants everyone in America to know he supports the LGBTQ community.
And that&#8217;s fine. Don&#8217;t agree with him, don&#8217;t vote for him.
But why is Biden pushing that same agenda on nations around the world?
The U.S. government recently announced it would be sending its envoy for LGBTQ rights to Indonesia.
Jessica Stern, Washington’s special envoy to advance the rights of LGBTQ people, was scheduled to visit Indonesia on December 7, following stops in Vietnam and the Philippines, the State Department had said on November 28.
But the top clerical body in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country denounced the scheduled visit by the LGBTQ rights envoy, saying it would not welcome a visitor &#8220;whose intention is to undermine our nation’s cultural and religious values.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-35350">TIRED OF THE LEGACY MEDIA’S BIAS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE AND OBSCURING THE TRUTH? JOIN US.</a>
The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) Deputy Chairman Anwar Abbas said the organization &#8220;categorically rejects the visit by the special envoy,&#8221; Benar News <a href="https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/indonesia-us-lgbt-envoy-visit-12012022125233.html">reported</a>.
The MUI &#8220;cannot welcome a guest whose purpose in coming here is to damage and undermine the noble religious and cultural values ​​of our nation,&#8221; Anwar said. &#8220;If this behavior is tolerated, it will lead to humanity’s extinction, because if men marry men and women marry women, they will not reproduce.&#8221;
Let&#8217;s pause here. Americans are, by and large, accepting of homosexuality. Some 72% of Americans say so, according to a 2020 <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/06/25/global-divide-on-homosexuality-persists/">poll</a> by Pew Research.
But America is not the world. That same poll found only 9% of Indonesians agree homosexuality &#8220;should be accepted by society.&#8221;
So why should we fly into their country and push LGBTQ rights? Why should Biden send officials to other countries &#8212; officials who represent America &#8212; and try to be divisive over the issue?
Earlier this week, the U.S. government canceled Stern&#8217;s trip to Indonesia.
“[A]fter discussions with our counterparts in the Indonesian government, we have decided to cancel Special Envoy Stern’s visit to Indonesia,” Ambassador Sung Kim said in a statement on Friday.
“Knowing that around the world LGBTQI+ persons experience disproportionate levels of violence and discrimination, it is important to continue the dialogue and ensure mutual respect for one another, rather than pretending that the issues do not exist,” he said.
Sure, for Indonesians. That&#8217;s their dialogue to have, not ours.
For instance, Indonesia on Tuesday approved a new criminal code to prohibit anyone in the country from having sex outside marriage. The law takes effect in 2025 and will apply to residents and foreigners residing in Indonesia, along with tourists visiting destinations such as Bali.
Under the new code, extramarital sex will carry a jail term of up to a year, unmarried couples living together could be jailed for up to six months, and adultery will also be a jailable offense.
That has prompted widespread protests across the country. And that&#8217;s fine &#8212; but it&#8217;s none of our business. Imagine if Indonesia sent an envoy to the U.S. to preach jail time for people who have sex outside of marriage.
We do a lot of things right in America, but plenty of things wrong, too. But either way, we ought not to be proselytizing in foreign countries, pushing them to accept homosexuality. That&#8217;s their business.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

Sam Brinton

Why Is Biden Pushing A Gay Agenda On Foreign Nations?

 Why Is President Joe Biden Pushing A Gay Agenda On Foreign Nations? 

Executive

Gay Rights

LGBTQ

Social Issues

An Indonesian ferry transporting 271 people caught fire on Wednesday off the coast of Bali, and rescue efforts are underway as the number of casualties and those injured is unknown.
The Mutiara Timur I, including 236 passengers and 35 personnel, was engulfed in flames about a mile from Karangasem beach, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-fires-indonesia-evacuations-bali-b41ab6a4196debbf30162c130aa4e4cc?taid=6374dbe7b9e4b40001bcf01b&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the Associated Press.
“We are still focused on evacuation efforts,” Bali’s search and rescue agency head, Gede Darmada, told the AP.
Numerous naval vessels and local fishing boats were reportedly working to evacuate people to two navy ships in the rescue effort.
Videos posted to social media from those on the scene showed smoke emerging from multiple points across the City Line vessel, along with some people who had been rescued on a neighboring boat.
https://twitter.com/ferozwala/status/1592873954431373314
The fire appeared to be focused near the rear of the ferry. In another video, passengers were gathered at the front of the ship awaiting rescue.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Ferry catches fire with passengers on board in Bali, Indonesia <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fire</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/news?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#news</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bali?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bali</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indonesia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indonesia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ferry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ferry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KameraOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KameraOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/rBSXf8Oq6N">pic.twitter.com/rBSXf8Oq6N</a>
&mdash; KameraOne (@kamera_one) <a href="https://twitter.com/kamera_one/status/1592861155323940870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Travel by ferry is common in the nation comprised of more than 17,000 islands. Though rare, ferry incidents have led to mass tragedies in the past.
In May, a ferry in Indonesia carrying <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/25-missing-after-ferry-sinks-in-indonesia/articleshow/91864109.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">42 people</a> sank in the Central Sulawesi province. In 2018, another with 200 people <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/six-dead-as-ferry-sinks-near-bali-c-3263820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sank</a> in the North Sumatra area of Indonesia, killing 167 people.
The event also comes as the leaders of the G20 are meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Heads of state for the nations, including President Joe Biden, have joined in the event.
Biden has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders, addressing many international political issues, including the war in Ukraine, Taiwan, and climate change.
After his three-hour meeting with Xi on Monday, Biden said that he does not believe China has imminent plans to invade Taiwan.
“I made it clear that our policy on Taiwan has not changed at all,” Biden <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/14/taiwan-looms-large-as-joe-biden-prepares-to-meet-xi-jinping-in-bali" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters. “It’s the same exact position we have always had. I made it clear that I want to see cross-strait issues peacefully resolved so that it never has to come to that. I’m convinced that he understood exactly what I was saying, and I understood what he was saying.”

Indonesian ferry

Ferry Carrying Almost 300 People In Bali Catches Fire, Casualties Unknown

Death

Disasters

Fire

Fights between supporters of two rival soccer teams in East Java, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/indonesia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indonesia</a>, led to a massive riot and a stampede, killing at least 129 people.
Authorities said most of those killed at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malong either suffocated or were trampled to death trying to get out of the stadium after chaos erupted and police fired tear gas, the Associated Press <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/4759039/indonesian-soccer-match-riot-leaves-more-than-120-dead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Soccer club Arema lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya, and Arema fans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/02/indonesia-football-fans-killed-east-java-arema-malang" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> proceeded to run onto the field after the defeat. Among the 129 killed were two police officers. Another 180 people were injured during the riot.
Nearly 3,000 fans stormed the field after the game, according to local reports, and multiple vehicles were torched and damaged.
Shocking video of the event showed hundreds of people running off the field as police ran onto the field in riot gear and hit people with batons.
https://twitter.com/sama_nile/status/1576384609679392770
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW &#8211; Over 100 people were killed tonight in riots that broke out at a football match in Indonesia.<a href="https://t.co/hGZEwQyHmL">pic.twitter.com/hGZEwQyHmL</a>
&mdash; Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1576359795292262400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta said the death count is likely to increase as many of the 180 injured were in critical condition. Afinta defended the use of tear gas, saying there was &#8220;anarchy,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/world/asia/indonesia-soccer-football-dead-arema-persebaya-surabaya.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The New York Times.
“They were about to attack the officers and had damaged the cars,&#8221; he said.

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