In the Asian Parliament Session, the DPR Leads the Formation of the Palestine Commission

Fadli Zon

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) has not stopped voicing Palestinian independence, which continues to be under the terror of Israeli military aggression. The DPR, through the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), led the formation of the Palestine Commission in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) or the Parliamentary organization of Asian countries.

The good news is that the Palestine Commission has been agreed upon by all members of the Asian parliament at the Executive Session of the Asian Parliament in Antalya, Turkey, 26-29 November 2023. Chairman of the DPR RI BKSAP, Fadli Zon, was elected as Chairman of the Session by the APA Executive Board.

Fadli Zon, who declared the formation of the Palestine Commission, said that this special commission would focus on carrying out effective parliamentary diplomacy efforts to promote peace and stop the war between the Israeli military and the Hamas group.

"The Palestinian Commission in the Asian Parliament emphasizes the urgency of the Palestinian situation, as well as investigating Israel's war crimes, and encouraging Palestinian independence," said Fadli Zon, Thursday, November 30.

APA itself is an organizational forum for parliaments throughout Asia which consists of parliaments from Indonesia, Turkey, PRC, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Cambodia, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.

BKSAP DPR believes that parliament as a representation of the people must be able to show commitment to fighting various forms of colonialism, such as what Israel did to Palestine. Fadli said that the formation of the special commission proved that all Asian parliaments supported the struggle for independence for the Palestinian people.

"For this reason, I invite the parliaments of Asian countries who are members of APA to unite to reject and fight Israeli colonialism," said the legislator from the West Java Electoral District V.

At the Executive Session of the Asian Parliament in Turkey, a number of parliamentarians expressed their views regarding the importance of APA's efforts to support Palestinian independence. Also present at the session was the Deputy Chair of the Palestinian Parliament, Ali Feisal, who was later elected as Chair of the Palestinian Commission.

Fadli revealed that the DPR's persistent struggle to encourage parliamentary diplomacy in supporting Palestinian independence received appreciation from the parliaments of Asian countries who were present.

"In that session, Indonesia was asked to be the Rapporteur (investigator and report provider) in the Palestinian Commission," said Fadli.

On the other hand, Fadli condemned the double standards and hypocrisy of countries that have often spoken out about human rights and democracy but remained silent when responding to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. Especially when Israel brutally targets attacks on civilians, including women and children.

As is known, the war in the Gaza Strip has claimed more than 15,000 lives and tens of thousands of other people were injured. Israel has also been proven to bombard hospitals, schools, journalists, refugees, including Indonesian hospitals.

On this basis, Fadli criticized countries that supported Israel and countries that turned a blind eye to this heinous act.

"Countries that support Israel's atrocities no longer have the legitimacy to talk about humanitarian morals, democracy, and human rights," stressed the member of Commission I of the DPR in charge of international relations.

Fadli also reiterated the full support of the Indonesian people for Palestinian independence. He also believes that the current temporary ceasefire will not be effective in stopping Israel's war crimes, unless the ceasefire is implemented permanently and Palestine is free from colonialism.

"For this reason, I invite the Asian parliaments present to make joint efforts to encourage the achievement of Palestinian independence, one of which is through the Palestinian Commission which has just been formed," concluded Fadli.