MUI Appreciates Foreign Minister's Struggle To Defend Palestine At The International Court

Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi while attending an open debate at the UN Security Council in New York, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 local time. (Doc of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The head of the MUI for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, appreciated the steps taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi in fighting for Palestine in various international forums. The statement was delivered following the speech of the Foreign Minister at the International Court of Justice) and several other international forums, such as the G20 Forum in Rio de Janeiro. In his statement, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim called the efforts of the Indonesian Foreign Minister to be a form of the attitude of the government, the people, and the Indonesian nation towards the actions of the Israeli people as well as the defense of the struggle of the Palestinian people. He emphasized the position, role, and this attitude have received very special international appreciation. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs has not contributed to Indonesia's independence, but Palestine to the present day is the only nation in the world that is still colonized and we must not allow and remain silent," Sudarnoto said in his statement, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, February 25. Sudarnoto revealed the importance of maintaining and strengthening Indonesia's struggle for diplomacy related to Palestine in the future. According to Sudarnoto, the concrete steps of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in fighting for Palestine through international forums are an important momentum to open global awareness of Israel's moral loss of support and legitimacy. He invites other countries to jointly put pressure on Israel, including through boycott, diplomatic relations, and global exclusion. "Alonged with the position of America and several other countries that still show its support to Israel, then the attitude of Indonesia conveyed by the Foreign Minister is becoming a very important momentum to invite other countries to further open awareness that Israel and its partner countries have actually begun to lose its support and moral legitimacy internationally," Sudarnoto said. He stressed the important role of civil society, religious figures, academics, and media in strengthening international pressure against Israel. He considers that narratives about Israel as a common enemy need to continue to be voiced massively and widely by all parties.

In looking at the hearing mechanism at ICJ and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi's statement, Sudarnoto expressed his support and considered it an important step in stopping Israel's brutal action. He hopes that there will be an effective decision at the UN General Assembly to permanently end Israel's occupation. "ICJ has the authority to deliver legal fatwas related to Israel's October with various consequences. It must be widely supported and guarded so that there will be important and effective decisions at the UN general assembly to permanently stop Israel's brutal actions," concluded Sudarnoto.