"The condition and situation are now difficult. The Indonesian foreign minister will communicate directly with the Palestinian government. We hope the people will provide assistance in the form of cash," Agung Laksono said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono said assistance to Palestine in the form of cash is preferable.
"The condition and situation are now difficult. The Indonesian foreign minister will communicate directly with the Palestinian government. We hope the people will provide assistance in the form of cash," the coordinating minister said here on Friday.
He said the Indonesian government will facilitate if people could take the initiative to extend assistance.
"The best way of helping is to provide money because it is easier to channel. The money will be transferred to the Hamas or Fatah government. The Indonesian government is preparing humanitarian aid worth US$1 million," he said.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip, Palestine.
President Yudhoyono said that he continued to take efforts actively to end the violence through diplomatic channels at the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement.
The Israeli attack was one of the issues discussed at the plenary cabinet meeting here on Friday.
He said, "Apart from condemning the excessive Israeli military action, Indonesia has also actively taken diplomatic efforts at the UN, OIC, and the Non-Aligned Movement to stop it."
He said Indonesia holds four principles with regard to ending the violence.
Firstly, Israeli military actions must be stopped, and secondly, a truce must be implemented under the supervision of the UN. Thirdly, actions of retribution from both sides must be prevented, and fourthly, humanitarian relief assistance must be channeled immediately to the victims in Palestine, especially children and women.
In light of that, President Yudhoyono on the occasion had asked Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to provide detailed information on the situation.
The cabinet meeting that day also discussed the situation in the country after both the presidential candidates claimed victory following the presidential election on July 9.
It also discussed the completion of programs in the remaining 100 days before the term of the cabinet is over on October 22.
Meanwhile, a legislator had urged the government to take active steps immediately to end Israels military aggression on the Gaza Strip, which had claimed the lives of many Palestinian civilians.
"The government should act immediately, so that the aggression could be stopped. Every single day of failure to stop the aggression will result in an increase in the number of civilian casualties," Habib Nabiel Almusawa, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), stated here on Friday.
Nabiel was responding to the condemnation voiced by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa against Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The foreign minister had remarked in a press statement that the Indonesian government condemned Israels recent military attack on the Gaza Strip of Palestine.
"Indonesia condemns Israels military offensive in Gaza. It is an act that has caused a lot of casualties in Palestine, and it has created a new obstacle in the efforts to create a condition conducive for the continuation of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine," noted Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa.
The minister pointed out that Israels recent military action had left the the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank in great distress. Marty described the military action as a "collective punishment" conducted by Israel on Palestinians.
"It must be understood that the crux of the problem here is Israel occupying Palestines area. This must end. We must push through the peace negotiation process between Israel and Palestine in order for them to agree on a two-state solution," Marty remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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