INDONESIA CONDEMNS TRUMP'S DECISION ON JERUSALEM by Fardah

 Jakarta, Dec 8, 2017 (Antara) - US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital and to relocate the US embassy to Al Quds (Jerusalem in Arabic) has triggered condemnations from various parties, including  the Head of State, Parliament, and Ulemas, in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim population nation.

         President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has voiced Indonesia's strong condemnation of the unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital by the US and has called for a UN meeting to discuss the matter.

        The US should reconsider the decision, as it has violated various resolutions issued by the UN Security Council and General Assembly, Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace, Dec 7.

        "This could disrupt world peace and stability," he stated.

         Jokowi reaffirmed that he and the Indonesian people remain consistent in standing with the Palestinians in the struggle for independence and fulfillment of their rights, which are in line with the Preamble of Indonesia's 1945 Constitution.

         The president said he has urged Foreign Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi to call the US ambassador to Indonesia to convey Indonesia's stance.

         The Indonesian government has communicated with several member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

        "It is clear that the OIC has decided to immediately convene, and I will attend the OIC Assembly," he stated.

          Jokowi noted that the OIC Assembly is planned to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec 13.

         Minister Marsudi earlier remarked that Indonesia had condemned the announcement made by US President Trump on Jerusalem.

         "We condemn this recognition. Democracy means respecting international laws. Thus, the recognition disrespects various resolutions of the UN Security Council," she pointed out.

           The minister wore a keffiyeh, a white and black traditional Arab headdress, a symbol of the Palestinian struggle, while hosting the 10th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) participated in by delegates from 100 countries.

         "I am standing here wearing the Palestinian scarf to show the strong commitment of Indonesia and its people, who will always stand with the people of Palestine for their rights. Indonesia will always stand with Palestine," she remarked while addressing the opening ceremony of the BDF conference, in Serpong, Banten Province, on Dec 7.

          Trump's decision will hinder regional stability in the Middle East, she noted.

          Another condemnation was voided by Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Zulkifli Hasan.

         "We condemn President Trump who made the announcement, and I am certain that anyone will certainly condemn it as well," he noted, adding that "the policy will lead to resistance."
    Deputy House Speaker Taufik Kurniawan has also strongly condemned the US¿ move.

        The House of Representatives (DPR) has supported the Indonesian Government for strongly opposing Trump's move on Jerusalem and asking the US Government to reconsider the decision, Kurniawan, deputy chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), noted.

        DPR will fight to oppose the US' move in international and regional parliamentarian fora, he added.

        Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) stated that Trump's move has shown that he has no sensitiveness to the feeling of Muslims worldwide.

         "The move reflects Trump lack of sensitiveness to the feeling of Muslims," MUI Deputy Chairman Zainut Tauhid Saadi stated.  
   He added that the plan will anger Muslims worldwide. Instead of contributing to a peace solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the move will trigger fanaticism and violence, putting Israel-Palestine peace process on the line.

        MUI supports the Indonesian government's steps to help Palestinians gain their independence and to create peace through a two-state solution.

         MUI also appeals to the Indonesian government to lobby Muslim countries to press the US to abandon its plan and to urge the UN to impose stern sanctions on Israel and the US for its blatant violation of the UN resolution.

        The Indonesian Government's strong condemnation was also lauded by Yaqut Cholil, chairman of Ansor Youth Movement, a youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization.

         "Indonesia must be consistent in supporting Palestine's struggle for independence by opposing the relocation of Israel's capital to Jerusalem," he remarked in a statement.

        Trump has created instability not only in the Middle East region but also the world, as well as ruined the peace process between Palestine and Israel, he stated.

        Jerusalem is a sensitive issue, because it is the Holy Land for three major religions, namely Christianity, Islam, and Jew, he noted.

        Yon Machmudi, PhD, observer of Middle East issues from the University of Indonesia (UI), has opined that Trump has destroyed the prospects of peace process by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

          "It seems that Trump has changed the US policy on Palestine. In the past, the US had also accommodated Palestine's interests, but now it is altered to fully support every interest and policy of Israel only," he remarked in Jakarta.

         Machmudi, chairman of the Post-Graduate Program on Middle East and Islam Studies of the UI, explained that Trump has blatantly shown the US' stance to support the severest human rights violation in the world.

         "Trump does not care about peace in the Middle East, in general, and he prefers to satisfy Israel. as his loyal ally in the Middle East," the lecturer of the UI's Faculty of Cultural Studies noted.

         The world must reject Trump's irresponsible policy, he stated, adding that the world community is being tested whether they are sincere in trying to create peace and respecting values of humanity.

          If the world, including Indonesia, does not care, the world order will be ruined, he remarked.

         "The world solidarity must be created to isolate the US and Israel who have demonstrated their poor commitment to world peace," Machmudi pointed out.

        Indonesia plans to show their rage against Trump's decision by holding peaceful rallies to condemn and oppose the US move in front of the US embassy in Jakarta and other cities, after performing Friday Prayers on Dec 8.
   The Jakarta Metro Police Officers have already heightened their security patrols around the vicinity of the Embassy of the United States in Jakarta since Trump made the announcement on Dec 6. ***2***
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EDITED BY INE/H-YH

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 08-12-2017