Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Tata: Recognizes Palestine's Obligation Based On International Law

"Recognizing the Palestinian State Palestine is an obligation based on international law, defending justice and believing in the UN Charter," said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Arrmanatha Nasir.

The recognition of the Palestinian State is one of three urgent steps that Deputy Foreign Minister Tata conveyed when speaking at the International Summit on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution organized by France and Saudi Arabia, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, Tuesday.

"Indonesia calls for the importance of all countries to immediately recognize the Palestinian State as a legal and moral obligation," said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Recognizing Palestine is not a gift. This is an obligation based on international law. Acknowledging Palestine means defending justice. Trust in the UN Charter, not just quoting it," said Deputy Foreign Minister Tata, launching a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday, July 30.

Indonesia also emphasizes that the true peace process can only begin if Israel and Palestine sit as equal parties.

"And it started with political recognition," he said!

The second urgent step that must be taken is an unconditional ceasefire immediately in the Gaza Strip.

The Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said President Prabowo Subianto had emphasized Indonesia's readiness to send personnel to support Gaza's stabilization mission under the UN mandate.

"The ceasefire is not a negotiation strategy. It is a moral obligation," said Deputy Foreign Minister Tata.

"Indonesia is not only talking about peace. Indonesia is ready to contribute to building peace in the field," he said.

The third urgent step that must be taken immediately is that the reconstruction of Gaza and the direction of the Palestinian political future must be fully owned and led by the Palestinian people.

Indonesia also firmly rejects any attempt to forcibly move residents, change demographics, or regulate Palestinian sovereignty unilaterally.

"No one can build a state for Palestine, except the Palestinian people themselves," said the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The strong and united Palestinian state, with full control over its territory and institutions, is the foundation of sustainable regional peace," the Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister stressed.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Tata on this occasion repeated Indonesia's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, especially education for the younger generation.

"Indonesia believes that one day, the Palestinian children we help today will become leaders of an independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state," he explained.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs called on all countries to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive, concrete, irreversible steps towards a two-state solution, based on international law, the 1967 border, and relevant UN resolutions.

"Let this be a moment when the world stops managing the crisis, and begins ending it. Indonesia is ready to work with all countries who believe that promises to Palestine must be kept, not postponed," concluded the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia.

The United Nations International Summit this time resulted in "New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State solution."

This declaration received broad support from UN member countries. Declarations include emphasizing the importance of ending the war in Gaza immediately, opening a humanitarian aid blockade, and supporting the implementation of the Arab-OIC Reconstruction Plan, in order to rebuild Gaza and begin the process of achieving a two-state solution.

The declaration also attached a summary of Annex from 8 working groups that raised various issues that needed attention in ending the war in Gaza and the implementation of postwar negotiations between Palestine and Israel in achieving a two-state solution.

Some of these issues include the implementation of a ceasefire, security, humanitarian aid, recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, plans to achieve independent and sovereign Palestinians and support for the economic development and reform of the Palestinian Authority.

In the process of preparing for the Conference, Indonesia and Italy have become Co-chairs in a security work group that produces various related recommendations to create permanent security in Gaza and the West Bank, after the war in Gaza.

The working group conducted intensive consultations to gather various concrete steps that need to be taken to ensure the safety of Palestine and Israel as well as a wider Eastern-Middle Area.