What Indonesia has shown in the UN Security Council`s open debate is actually its consistent stance on the Palestinian issue. Jakarta`s political stance on the Palestinian issue has remained unchanged since the era of president Soekarno.
In 1962, the founding father of Indonesia had made a statement that has since then served as a guideline in the Indonesian foreign policy on Palestinian issues.
"As long as the freedom of Palestine is yet to be returned to the Palestinians, Indonesia will forever stand in defiance against the occupation by Israel," Soekarno had stated.
Amid Indonesia`s role in the United Nations` Security Council, the Palestinian issue has even become the permanent priority of Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its foreign policies throughout 2019.
"Indonesia will remain in the frontline for helping the Palestinian people fight for their unfinished struggles. Indonesia`s support for Palestine will never recede," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi remarked in her annual press statement on Jan 9.
Therefore, for Indonesia, the shift in political stance of several countries on the Palestinian issue is indeed a serious threat as it opposes the UN resolutions that should, in fact, be respected and serve as foundations for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she noted.
One of the countries that has changed its political stance on the Palestinian issue is the United States, which has moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
This factual reality, however, will never make Indonesia recede its support for the Palestinians. Instead, Jakarta will continue to be at the forefront to help the people of Palestine achieve the goal pursued through their relentless struggles.
Apart from the fact that the Palestinian Government and People`s struggle for the independence seems to be like a winding road, Palestine`s natural and legal rights to become a permanent member country of the United Nations remain valid.
The natural and legal rights of the Palestine to become the permanent member state of the United Nations had been echoed by Marsudi who represented Indonesia at the open debate.
She warned the UN Security Council that Palestine possesses the rights, and the turbulent road that Palestine has been facing towards its independence will not then hamper the endeavor of it and international community to meet its rights to get the UN membership.
She also pointed out that her participation in the UN Security Council`s open debate was aimed at showing Indonesia`s ongoing support for Palestine`s unfinished struggle for its independence.
The Palestinian issue must be given full attention by the UN Security Council, and a success in resolving the issue would determine the UN Security Council`s credibility and international community`s trust on it, she pointed out.
In her remarks at the open debate, the Indonesian foreign minister highlighted three main points needed to win the international community`s attention in an endeavor to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.
First, she emphasized that all parties should meet international law and all related UN Resolutions and prevent themselves from taking provocative measures.
The Indonesian Government also underlined the importance of an immediate end to violent acts and violations of international law. Hence, Israel`s illegal settlements on the occupied land of Palestine should immediately be ended.
"The illegal settlements are morally and legally wrong, and so they must be stopped immediately," she noted.
The second point is related to the importance of legitimacy for the peace process of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict resolution. The peace process needs to meet an international parameter that has been approved and supported by multilateral mechanism.
For Indonesia, the Two-State Solution is the only way to keep the Palestinian-Israeli peace process alive and progressive. Therefore, Indonesia is concerned with the endeavors to exit from the Two-State Solution principle, she remarked.
The third point that the Indonesia Government pays a serious attention is the Palestinian people`s prolonged humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza, as a result of Israel`s 11-year-long blockade.
The blockade must immediately be ended. Indonesia highly appreciates the UN member countries that have backed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to cope with its financial deficit.
"Indonesia itself has increased its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)," Marsudi added.
In her closing remarks at the open debate, which she firstly attended since Indonesia has officially been seated as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on Jan 1, 2019, she encouraged all parties to restrain from all acts of violence.
They were also encouraged to keep working towards pushing the peace process and reviving the spirit of multilateralism, Marsudi revealed.
For Indonesia, the concrete support for Palestine has not merely been demonstrated during this open debate but also revealed since the Soekarno era. This never-ending support for Palestine will remain unchanged.
Reporter: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
