"I regret the visit of Yahya Cholil Staquf to Israel for a Jewish American Community conference in Jerusalem, Palestine," Almasyhari, chairman of the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), said in a statement recently.
The visit could damage diplomatic efforts being made by Indonesia for Palestinian struggle for independence, he remarked.
"The visit of Yahya Staquf to Israel makes Indonesia ashamed to countries who have selected Indonesia (to be non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," he added.
He urged President Joko Widodo to sanction Staquf, who is a member of the presidential advisory board (Wantimpres), for hurting the feeling of Palestine and other Muslim-majority nations.
Although Staquf claimed that he went to Israel on his personal behalf, his visit could not be separated from the fact that he is a member of Wantimpres.
The visit was a blunder for the government`s international political diplomacy that has been carried out to support Palestine`s freedom struggle.
"The Palace must give explanation, how the President`s position regarding Yahya Staquf`s move," he noted.
Under the Joko Widodo administration, the foreign ministry has carried out appropriate political moves to continue Indonesia`s staunch support for Palestine, he lauded.
Staquf`s visit, however, could damage Indonesia`s international policy on Palestine particularly following the recent slaughters of more than hundred Palestinians by Israel who has also injured thousands of Palestinians protesting in the Great March of Return against Israeli occupation.
Staquf is an Islamic figure from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization.
President Joko Widodo has stated that Staquf`s departure to Israel was a personal visit.
"It was his personal affair. He has said it was a personal affair because he was invited to be a speaker in Israel," he said in Bogor recently.
President Widodo assured that Staquf would continue to offer his full support to Palestine.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo expressed his criticism over the visit to Israel, saying he potentially could cause an uproar, since the visit happened just before elections.
"It is, indeed, deplorable for an elite member to cause controversy and political noise," he said.
Reporter: Riza Harahap
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
