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Indonesia will always stand with Palestine
With such numerous and diverse support for Palestine, clearly the issue of Palestine will always be in the hearts and minds of the Indonesian people. #opinion
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Showing solidarity – A girl takes a picture during the 2016 Palestine Solidarity Day at Sasana Budaya Ganesha in Bandung, West Java, on Oct.15. (Antara/Agus Bebeng)
F
ollowing the reelection of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, some may ask whether Palestine will remain a priority of foreign policy.
During a short visit of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to Jordan in early March, it was reaffirmed that Indonesia’s commitment and support for the struggle of Palestinian independence will never diminish. Political, economic, humanitarian support and capacity building are forms of our constant support.
Indonesia will always be on the forefront if a crisis occurs in Palestine and will keep pronouncing its strong voice against Israel’s occupation and blockade, both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Indonesia’s staunch support for Palestine is mandated by its 1945 Constitution. Its preamble, inter alia, says that “independence is the inalienable right of every nation, therefore, colonialization on earth must be abolished”.
In the last two years, following the United States’ plan to launch “the deal of the century”, the situation in Palestine has seriously deteriorated even further, with more uncertainty. The US’ unconditional support for Israel has justified its even more aggressive policies toward Palestine.
Such US support has been reflected in, among other things, the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; to close the PLO’s office in Washington, DC and to cut its annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The visit of up to 90,000 Indonesian tourists [...] has also given economic benefits to the Palestinians [...]
