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Indonesia calls for OIC unity in support of Palestine
Indonesia sought to remind leaders of the Islamic world to “remain united on helping Palestine”, as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened over the weekend to hash out a resolution on the war in Gaza amid revived efforts to advance ties between Israel and Arab nations.
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President of The Gambia Adama Barrow (center) stands with other heads of member states and delegation representatives for a family photo on May 04, 2024, during the opening of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 2024 Summit at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Banjul. (AFP/Muhamadou Bittaye)
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ndonesia sought to remind leaders of the Islamic world to “remain united in helping Palestine”, as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened over the weekend to hash out a resolution on the war in Gaza amid revived efforts to advance ties between Israel and Arab nations.
“I would like to remind us of the Arab Peace Initiative and the OIC decision that peace with Israel will only be possible if Israel ends its occupation of Palestine,” Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Sunday according to a transcript of her speech to the conference.
“That decision sent a strong message to Israel: without independence for Palestine, there can be no diplomatic relations. That message and decision should be maintained,” she asserted.
Like many OIC member states, Indonesia does not maintain any formal relations with Israel.
Retno’s remarks came almost a week after the United States revealed it was prepared to offer Saudi Arabia security guarantees if it “normalizes” relations with Israel.
Riyadh, a close ally of Washington in the Middle East, has long been courted to establish official channels with Tel Aviv but paused talks when the Gaza war broke out.
Pro-Israeli media sources have also suggested that Indonesia, another staunch supporter of Palestinian sovereignty, was in similar talks to forge official ties with Israel, conjecture that the government in Jakarta has repeatedly refuted.
