Foreign Minister Meets With Vice President To Report Consistency Of Indonesia Supports Palestine

Screenshot - Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi meets Vice President (Wapres) Ma'ruf Amin/screenshot

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi met with Vice President Ma'ruf Amin to report on Indonesia's consistency in supporting Palestinian independence.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister firmly rejected the news that Indonesia would normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

"So, it is not true as reported in the statement that there is a possibility of opening diplomatic relations between Israel and Indonesia. So, the Foreign Minister reported to the Vice President that Indonesia remains consistently on that path and will continue to be consistent in this government," said Spokesperson for the Vice President Masduki Baidlowi in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 17.

Then, said Masduki, the Vice President fully supports Indonesia's steps, including in efforts to defuse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution agreement.

"It is fully supported by the Vice President to continue to be consistent (implementing) the second state solution is final, it will not change. I think that is the principle, which is also an order from the Vice President to continue to be fought for," said Masduki.

In addition, the Foreign Minister also reported on the current situation related to the Iran-Israeli conflict which recently surfaced and Indonesia's role in efforts to reduce the conflict.

"The Foreign Minister reported on the progress of what was carried out by the Foreign Minister regarding the activities of lobbying the Indonesian government against various countries, how to include Iran which is the focus so that there is no war so that there is no retaliation from the Israeli side," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the issue that Indonesia would normalize diplomatic relations with Israel so that it could be accepted as a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

"I emphasize that until now, there are no plans to open diplomatic relations with Israel, especially in the midst of the current situation of Israeli atrocities in Gaza," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lalu Muhamad Iqbal in a statement on Thursday (11/4) night.

He emphasized that Indonesia's position has not changed and remains strong in supporting Palestinian independence in the framework of a two-state solution.

"Indonesia will always be consistent, at the forefront of defending the rights of the Palestinian people," he said.