"The UN and countries in the region could encourage Israel to stop its military actions."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged the UN Security Council to stop the attacks by Israel on Gaza, Palestine.
"I am worried about the Israeli air attacks which are still continuing, while longer-range rocket fire is also still happening. Victims are continuing to fall, like before, among civilians. What is happening now must be immediately stopped," he said at a press conference before his departure to Cambodia for the ASEAN and East Asian summits here on Saturday.
President Yudhoyono said the UN must immediately prevent attacks from parties, for unless they are stopped they might spread conflicts and create new violence in the region.
President Yudhoyono said the violence that is happening would not only hurt civilians, as shown during the open battles at the end of 2008 and early in 2009 that killed and wounded thousands of people, despite the fact that they only lasted for 22 days.
In addition to casualties, thousands of buildings and houses had also been destroyed, leaving thousands of families homeless, he added.
In view of that, he reiterated that the UN must immediately step in to prevent the spread of violence.
President Yudhoyono also asked neighboring countries to play significant roles in demanding Israel stop the violence.
"I hope the UN and countries in the region could encourage Israel to stop its military actions and air attacks, and after that the two sides must prevent new actions that could create conflicts and a wider war," he said.
President Yudhoyono said he fully supports Palestinian independence in line with the concept of a two-state solution.
"We support Palestinian independence under the concept of a two state solution," he said.
(T.M041/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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