MPR Talks About High Visits To Aqsa Katrol Mosque, Moral Support For Palestine

JAKARTA - Chairman of the MPR Bambang Soesatyo alias Bamsoet received the Supreme Judge and Advisor to the President of Palestine for Religious Affairs and Islam, Mahmoud Sudqi Abdurrahman al-Habbash in Jakarta, Friday 9 August.

During the meeting, Bamsoet explained the importance of the Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, related to the Isra Mi'raj incident of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. On the one hand, he said, this could be an opportunity for investment in Palestine by not forgetting the main goal of supporting independence.

"In addition to humanitarian aid, we will also mobilize Indonesian entrepreneurs, especially Muslim businessmen, to invest in Palestine," said the deputy chairman of the Golkar Party after the meeting.

Bamsoet added that the Aqsa Mosque is the goal of many Indonesian Muslims for religious tourism, but they often experience difficulties related to accommodation. This opportunity, he said, could be used to strengthen economic cooperation between Indonesia and Palestine. The increasing visit to the Aqsa Mosque will also provide moral support to Palestinians.

"Through business to business cooperation or waqf economic cooperation, the results can be used by Palestinians to improve welfare. In the early stages, this collaboration can be focused on the religious tourism sector, by facilitating access to tourism to the Aqsa Mosque," he said.

Furthermore, replying to Mahmoud who informed the current condition in Palestine, Bamsoet said the Palestinian struggle for more than 100 years is now facing increasingly difficult challenges.

According to Bamsoet, Indonesia through various international forums such as the United Nations, the OIC, to the Non-Aligned Movement, consistently supports the Palestinian struggle to achieve full independence and sovereignty. In addition to humanitarian assistance, Indonesia is also ready to send Peace Forces to the Gaza Strip if requested by the UN Security Council.

Bamsoet then emphasized the close historical relationship between Indonesia and Palestine. Indonesia's support for Palestine has been started since September 6, 1944, when the Palestinian Grand Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Amin Al-Husaini, recognized Indonesia's independence in a de facto manner before the proclamation of independence.

As a country that has consistently supported Palestinian independence since the declaration on November 15, 1988 in Algeria, Indonesia strengthened diplomatic relations with Palestine through the signing of the Joint Communique on October 19, 1989. President Soekarno even emphasized that as long as Palestinian independence has not been realized, Indonesia will continue to oppose Israeli colonialism, in line with the Indonesian constitution which rejects all forms of colonialism.

"We will continue to hold this spirit, and Indonesia will remain at the forefront of supporting Palestinian independence," said Bamsoet.

During this meeting, Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Fadel Muhammad, Palestinian Ambassador Zuhair Al-Shun, and PBNU figures such as Ulil Abshar Abdalla and Ahmad Suaedy were also present.