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Indonesia opposes US decision to reverse stance on Israeli settlements
Indonesia has flatly opposed the United States' decision to reverse its stance on the legality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory and is working with other members of the United Nations Security Council to respond to Washington's surprise policy flip-flop, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said.
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For peace and stability: Then-US president Barack Obama speaks during a working dinner with ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN-US Summit in California, United States, on Feb. 18, 2016. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stressed the urgency of resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting that Indonesia had consistently supported the independence of Palestine.
(Courtesy of the Presidential Office/-)
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ndonesia has voiced strong opposition to the United States’ declaration Monday that it will no longer consider Israeli settlements in Palestine illegal.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said Tuesday that Indonesia was “very concerned” with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement that Washington believed the building of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory was “not inconsistent with international law”.
"Calling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law hasn't worked. It hasn't advanced the cause of peace," Pompeo was quoted by AFP as saying.
The announcement is a victory for Israel’s right wing establishment, which has seen waning support with incumbent leader Benjamin Netanyahu unable to form government after two deadlocked elections this year.
"Of course we cannot accept this because it contradicts international law and is in conflict with every UN Security Council resolution," Retno said in a speech to the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to outline Indonesia’s geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
Retno said Indonesia had moved swiftly to discuss the contentious issue with other countries at the UN Security Council in response to the US policy change.
“They have chipped away at the illegal settlement issue, the status of Jerusalem, and even the refugee problem. At the end of it, what is left to negotiate? This is what concerns us,” she said.
