"We regret if such an activity was misinterpreted or politicized for other interests as in principle, Indonesia maintains a firm stance to help Palestine gain independence from Israel," the foreign ministry`s spokesman. said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has regretted Israels politicization of the visit of several Indonesian journalists to the country, which has no diplomatic relations with the worlds most populous Muslim nation.

"We regret if such an activity was misinterpreted or politicized for other interests as in principle, Indonesia maintains a firm stance to help Palestine gain independence from Israel," the foreign ministrys spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, noted here, Tuesday.

Nasir affirmed that the government could not prevent mediapersons from visiting Israel but expressed regret over the fact that such a visit was misconstrued for other interests.

The ministry did not receive a notification of the visit as Indonesia and Israel do not have diplomatic ties, he stated.

The ministrys data revealed that there have been no Indonesian media visits to Israel since 1994 for tourism and business promotions.

The Indonesian journalists who visited Israel at the invitation of the Israeli foreign ministry include Abdul Rakhim of Jawa Pos, Yustinus Tomi Aryanto of Tempo, James Luhulima of Kompas, Margareta of MetroTV, and an unidentified male journalist from Bisnis Indonesia.

The visit was deplored by Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I Mahfudz Siddiq.

"The visit obviously contradicts the stand that Indonesia has maintained from the start of being opposed to Israeli occupation of Palestine and in support of the nations independence," Siddiq emphasized here on Tuesday.

Furthermore, at the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Jakarta earlier this month, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reiterated the Indonesian stance, which is against the Israeli occupation.

"Israel has also never paid attention to international protests against its actions, which continue to victimize Palestinian civilians," Jokowi pointed out.

The Indonesian president believes that the people of Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu are concerned about the stand taken by President Jokowi and the Indonesian government, and therefore, the visit was part of their efforts to find lobbyists that can prove to be effective.

"I also do not know how they were able to enter Israel while two Indonesian foreign ministers Marty Natalegawa and Retno L.P. Marsudi were denied entry to Palestine by Israel. It is likely that they used ordinary green passports to enter Israel via Europe," he added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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