Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Oudia Benabdellah (fourth from right) poses with new Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair S.M. Al Shun (fifth from right) and the guests during the reception in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah)

The Palestinian ambassador is always welcomed warmly everywhere in Indonesia, as the Indonesian people, irrespective of their religion or political affiliation, support the Palestinian cause.

Indonesia, a leading member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population.

This was clearly reflected during the reception on Tuesday night, hosted by Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Oudia Benabdellah at his residence in Jakarta, in honor of the new Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair S.M. Al Shun.

“The main purpose of the reception is to introduce and welcome the new Palestinian ambassador. Morocco is a good friend of Palestine. Ambassador Zuhair was in Morocco before coming to Jakarta, and his family still lives in Rabat,” Ambassador Oudia said in introducing the senior Palestinian diplomat.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI is the chairman of the Al-Quds Committee and a strong supporter of the Palestinian people. King Mohammed VI expressed his deep personal concern when US President Donald Trump recently announced his administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“The city of Al-Quds must remain a land of cohabitation and a symbol of coexistence and tolerance for all,” King Mohammed VI said in a letter to Trump.

Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, which historically belongs to Palestine.

Zuhair expressed his gratitude to Oudia and to Indonesian friends for their support.

“We have the full support of many countries in the world, but our struggle for an independent state is not yet over. In the end, we are sure that we will succeed in our struggle,” said Zuhair.

Former Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab, the Foreign Ministry’s director for Middle Eastern affairs Sunarko and 32 ambassadors attended the reception, including Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Zimbabwean Ambassador Alice Mageza, Azerbaijan Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev, European Union Ambassador Vincent Guérend, French Ambassador Jean-Charles Berthonnet, Japanese Ambassador Ishii Masafumi and Qatari Ambassador Ahmed Bin Jassim Alhamar.