Machmudi, who is also the Chairman of the of Middle East Study and Islam Program at UI, told Antara here on Wednesday that Staquf should cancel his visit in honor of the government policy and Indonesia`s support for the people of Palestine.
Earlier, Staquf accepted Israel`s invitation to speak at the American Jewish Committee Global Forum in Jerusalem, Israel, on Sunday (June 10).
"Indonesia`s stance on rejecting the state of Israel has not changed, and as an Indonesian citizen, he should reinforce the stance. His attendance at the event might give Israel a far greater benefit and could be claimed as the success of Israel?s diplomacy," Machmudi remarked.
He added that Staquf's visit was counter-productive to the Indonesian government`s policy of addressing the Palestinian issue.
" Indonesia?s firm stance in postponing the visa of the Israeli entourage in the past few days, after the government`s concern over the death toll of Palestinian civilians, could be contradicted by the visit, especially since it carries the name of the presidency," he explained.
Regret
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (FPKS) Faction, Jazuli Juwaini, also expressed regret over Staquf?s visit to Israel.
In a press release received by Antara, Juwaini noted that Staquf?s attendance at the forum shows that he was not sensitive to the issue of Palestinians struggle, which is fully supported by the government and the people of Indonesia as mandated by the 1945 Constitution.
"I deeply regret the acceptance of the invitation on any pretext. Moreover, it was committed by an official of the Presidential Advisory Board. This shows insensitive personal attitude on the total support of the government and the people of Indonesia to the Palestinian struggle," Jazuli revealed.
The Indonesian government does not explicitly open any diplomatic space for Israel as it considers it to be an aggressor country that has been proven to colonize and massacre the Palestinians for decades. Israel also ignores dozens of UN resolutions.
"How could a person who is attached to the advisory board of the president fulfill an invitation from an Israeli-funded organization for the purpose of the colonial state`s diplomacy?," Juwaini noted.
The head of the PKS faction deeply regretted Staquf`s stance because it was carried out amid global criticism over Israeli massacre that left more than 60 Palestinian demonstrators dead and wounded 900 others, just a day ahead of the opening of the US embassy in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) some time ago.
" Israel`s brutal acts have been condemned by dozens of countries. The world leaders and celebrities have called for the boycott of all Israeli events and products. Unfortunately, a public figure and a public official who had been at the forefront in voicing solidarity for Palestine has accepted Israeli`s invitation," Jazuli stressed.
He expressed hope that this incident would be the last and would not to be followed by any similar actions that support Israeli`s diplomacy to perpetuate Palestinian occupation. "Do not be fooled by their evil intention to justify their violent attitude," he pointed out.
Reporter: antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
