JAKARTA - The Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, also known as Gus Yahya, issued a public apology for inviting American academic Peter Berkowitz, who has a Zionist background.
Gus Yahya explained that the invitation was an error resulting from a lack of due diligence in the selection process for resource persons.
"I apologize for my error in inviting Peter Berkowitz without considering his Zionist background. This occurred solely due to my lack of due diligence in selecting and inviting resource persons," Gus Yahya said in Jakarta on Thursday, as reported by Antara.
Gus Yahya emphasized that PBNU's stance on the Palestinian struggle has never changed. PBNU remains fully supportive of Palestinian independence and sovereignty as an independent state.
"PBNU supports the Palestinian people's struggle for an independent and sovereign state," he said.
Furthermore, PBNU also firmly condemns the various acts of violence and brutal attacks carried out by the Israeli government against civilians in Gaza.
"The Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and I condemn the brutal genocidal actions committed by the Israeli government in Gaza," said Gus Yahya.
He said that the PBNU calls on all parties, both national and international, to work hard to stop the genocide in Gaza and strive for a just and sustainable peace.
Peter Berkowitz's name emerged after he spoke at an event at the University of Indonesia. Public protests then arose due to Berkowitz's vocal support for Israel's genocide against Palestine.
In several articles he has written, Berkowitz views Israel's occupation of Palestine as a right to self-defense. He has even proposed relocating Gazans to Sinai, within Egypt.
Meanwhile, in relation to the PBNU, Peter Berkowitz was invited to be a speaker at the Nahdlatul Ulama National Leadership Academy (AKN NU).
AKN NU is the highest cadre training program within the PBNU, attended by dozens of selected participants and featuring international speakers. The goal is to equip NU's best cadres with a thorough understanding of the global geopolitical landscape and the ability to navigate the future direction of NU's struggle.
AKN NU is designed as an intensive program to develop future NU leaders at the national level. Participants will be equipped with strategic knowledge regarding global actors, key global regions, and international issues relevant to Indonesia's and NU's position in the global constellation.
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