Indonesia Consistent in Supporting Palestine: President Jokowi

Jakarta, (Antara) - Indonesia is consistent in its efforts to support Palestine in gaining its independence, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

"In 1962, Indonesia's founding father, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, Bung Karno, stated that until the Palestinian people gain their independence, the Indonesian nation will stand against Israel's colonialism," President Jokowi stated before leaders attending the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), here, Monday.

The Indonesian nation is consistent with its promise, he affirmed.

Therefore, on Monday (March 7), Indonesia along with other OIC member countries stand united to continue the unfinished struggle.

"It is an honor for the Indonesian people and government to fulfill a wish of our brother, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to host the OIC's Extraordinary Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif," President Jokowi emphasized.

He also greeted leaders and heads of delegations attending the meeting.

"Welcome to Indonesia. A beautiful country having the largest Muslim population in the world, the third-largest democratic nation in the world, and a country that soon opens an honorary consulate in Palestine," he noted.

He expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Palestine.

Several unilateral and illegal actions as well as collective punishments imposed by Israel have caused the suffering of the Palestinian people, he noted.

The Indonesian president also criticized the restriction on access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

"The Palestinian people are becoming helpless. The humanitarian situation in the occupied territory has deteriorated," he remarked.

Jokowi said that such a situation must be confronted and opposed together.

"We have to jointly confront the situation, and we fight. To fight, unity is crucial. We must unite. Palestine must unite. Palestine must reconcile," he stated.

President Jokowi chaired the Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem), which is expected to produce two documents: a Resolution and the Jakarta Declaration.

Held on March 6-7, the extraordinary meeting is themed "United for A Just Solution."

Over 500 delegates from 49 member countries of the OIC, two observer countries, five representatives of the UN Security Council's permanent members, and a UN special envoy to the Quarter on the Middle East, are attending the summit.(*)