OIC calls for Palestinian unity: President

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has noted that the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reaffirmed the importance of unity among the Palestinian people to maintain its sovereignty against the occupation by Israel.

"Palestine is the only participant of the Afro-Asian Conference of 1955 which has not yet gained its independence. The fifth extraordinary summit constitutes a joint effort to put the Palestinian issue on the world radar," the Indonesian president told a press conference here on Monday.

According to the president, the meeting also boosted the roles of the Islamic states to settle the Palestinian issue and the strengthening of support for the State of Al-Quds.

Although Palestine declared its independence in 1998, the occupation by Israel is expanding and the security situation is worrying since Israel continues to build illegal settlements.

"At the same time, a worrying situation continues to happen, such as tension in Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Syarif, violence against and violation of the Palestinian right, as well as access restrictions to the Al Aqsa Mosque," noted Jokowi.

Indonesia was asked to host the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of the OIC on March 6-7, 2016, which discussed the independence of Palestinian and Al-Quds Alsyarif.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives (DPR) has confirmed its support of the Indonesian policy on the struggle for an independent state of Palestine, according to House Deputy Speaker Taufik Kurniawan.

Indonesia is supporting the struggle for the independence of Palestine at the 5th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Extraordinary Summit Meeting in Jakarta from Sunday to Monday.

"The DPR fully supports Indonesian foreign policy in the struggle for independence of Palestine," Kurniawan remarked at the Nusantara III building here on Monday.

He noted that mutual support of the OIC member countries was needed to back Indonesias political stance regarding Palestinian independence to maintain dignity and restore human rights.

"Basically, the OIC summit can support the full independence of Palestine, and we remain consistent with the resolution for the independence of Palestine," Kurniawan noted.

He also expressed his hope that the Jakarta Declaration on the OIC summit would help resolve technical matters related to the follow-up on Palestinian independence.

In his opening address at the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of the OIC here on Monday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke of Indonesias readiness to facilitate the process of Palestinian national reconciliation.

"Indonesia is ready to help this reconciliation process," the head of state noted, stating his concern over the deteriorating situation in Palestine.

Several unilateral and illegal actions, as well as collective punishments imposed by Israel, have caused the suffering of the Palestinian people, he remarked.

The Indonesian president also criticized restrictions on the access to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

"The Palestinian people are becoming helpless. The humanitarian situation in the occupied territory has deteriorated," he pointed out.

Jokowi affirmed that such a situation must be confronted and opposed together.(*)

Source: ANTARA