Indonesia Codemns Israel's Settlement Law

Jakarta, (Antara) - The government of Indonesia has condemned the imposition of Israeli settlement law that retroactively legalizes thousands of illegal settler homes built on stolen Palestinian land.

The so-called Regulation Bill was passed on Feb 7 at the Israeli Knesset, according to a press statement of Foreign Affairs Ministry here on Monday.

The law violated the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 that urged Israel to halt the construction of illegal settlements in Palestinian territories, such as West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

The UN Security Council resolution and various other related resolutions affirmed that the construction of illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land had no legality of law and violated international law.

Therefore, the UN Security Council called on Israel to immediately halt the construction of illegal settlements in Palestinian territories.

Indonesia believed that the law would disrupt the two-state solution as it has been reaffirmed in the Middle East Peace Conference in Paris on Jan 15, 2017.

"The application of unilateral bill is a violation of international law and can create tensions, clashes, and violence in the occupied territories," according to the statement.

Therefore, the government of Indonesia called on the UN and the international community to immediately take decisive steps against Israeli policies that are considered not in line with the international spirit in creating peace in the Middle East.

As one of the countries that support Palestinian independence, the Indonesian government has expressed its readiness to cooperate with the international community in supporting peace between Palestine and Israel.

The Indonesian government has continued to encourage the countries of the Pacific Islands to support the cause of Palestinian independence and to recognize Palestine as a state.

"We always discuss the independence of Palestine in each bilateral meeting with Pacific countries and with those who have yet to recognize Palestine as a state. I call on them to immediately recognize Palestine," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said.

As for countries that have already recognized Palestine as a state, the Indonesian government will work towards a trilateral cooperation to take concrete steps to support Palestine.

"In case of countries that have recognized Palestine, such as Sweden, we have established trilateral cooperation to help the Palestinians. As for those who are yet to recognize (Palestine), we asked that they support the Palestinians," Retno stated.

"Indonesia will not backtrack from its stance of supporting Palestine," the minister remarked.(*)