NU calls on OIC to help Palestine in defending its independence

Jakarta, NU Online
Member of the Advisory Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Jusuf Kalla called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play its roles in defending Palestine in the fight for its independence and becoming such a platform to unify Arab states.

"Islamic countries, including the Arab states, should unite Hamas and Fatah in an attempt to fight for the independence of Palestine," Kalla who is also the Indonesia`s Vice President said here recently.

The vice president affirmed that Indonesia had encouraged the Islamic countries and Arab states to unite in the struggle for gaining the independence of Palestine by holding the 2016 OIC summit on Al Quds Al Sharif in response to the Israeli occupation in East Jerusalem, among others.

"However, no concrete actions have been taken to resolve the Palestinian conflict," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

The vice president stated that Indonesian President Joko Widodo had expressed full support for Palestine.

"Indonesia always supports Palestine to gain its independence," he emphasized.

During the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC, Indonesia will call on the Islamic world and the two Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah to unite. Both factions have agreed to hold elections by 2018.

President Widodo, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, had earlier departed for Istanbul, Turkey, to attend the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC.

The summit is being held to discuss US President Donald Trump`s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel`s capital city.

"Today, I along with my entourage are leaving for Istanbul, Turkey, to attend the Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Palestine," President Widodo was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Widodo expressed belief that the OIC Extraordinary Summit, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, holds significance, as it is the first opportunity for the OIC member countries to convene and firmly decline Trump`s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel`s capital city.

"Using this opportunity, I will voice the disagreement of Indonesians towards the US` one-sided decision and urge all OIC member countries to unify voices and forces in Palestine`s defense," he stated in the company of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Chief of the Military Force Air Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto, Army Chief of Staff General Mulyono, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Ade Supandi, Chief of the Indonesian Police Force General Tito Karnavian, and Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno.

The president further revealed that during the summit, he will highlight several measures that can be applied collectively or individually by OIC`s member countries in order to defend Palestine.

"I hope this visit would offer tangible benefits that would contribute to the efforts to achieving world peace, especially in settling the dispute between Palestine and Israel," he stated.

Widodo remarked that he and his entourage will return to Jakarta on Thursday.

The president and first lady departed for Istanbul, Turkey, aboard the Presidential aircraft Indonesia-1 from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airforce Base at 11 a.m. local time.

Vice President Kalla and spouse Mufidah along with Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan saw off the president. (Masdar)