UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14: Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom secretly met in New York for the first time with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda ahead of the UN General Assembly, a senior Israeli source said on Wednesday.

The official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters the meeting took place late on Tuesday but refused to give any details of what was discussed.

Indonesia, with close to 90 per cent of its 214 million people Muslims, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and regularly issues statements of support for the Palestinian cause.

Wirayuda stressed earlier this month that Jakarta would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.—AFP