Realizing Palestinian Independence, Indonesia Urges The Non-Aligned Movement To Do These Three Things

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesia urges countries that are members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to find a permanent solution related to the Palestinian position, after clashes broke out with Israel last week.

This urge was conveyed at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on Palestine, which was initiated by Indonesia virtually on Tuesday, June 22 yesterday.

"As expected, Israel violated the ceasefire last week. How long are we going to allow these atrocities to continue? Such violations have become a new normal, a new reality, a new routine," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi criticized in her statement.

Foreign Minister Retno said that in order to prevent similar incidents from recurring, a solution was needed to address the root of the problem, namely the cessation of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Palestine Committee produced a Political Declaration which among others contained a condemnation of the violation of the ceasefire by Israel, an affirmation that Israel's aggression and annexation of Palestine was a violation of international law, encouragement to countries to recognize the status of Palestine as a country.

Palestine illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Ahmed Abu Hameeda)

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Retno said that there were three important things that NAM did to support the settlement of the Palestinian issue. First, NAM must support the re-implementation of credible multilateral negotiations.

"A credible political process is the only way to prevent the recurrence of Israeli violence. There have been no substantive peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine for a long time," said the Foreign Minister.

He explained that NAM support for the re-implementation of peace negotiations was very important, through the existing multilateral platform and based on a two-state solution. In line with internationally agreed parameters.

Second, NAM needs to support the status of Palestine as a state. Foreign Minister Retno said, the large number of NAM member countries is a strength and the NAM vote will be taken into account by the world.

Therefore, NAM must have one voice in supporting the status of Palestine as a state and the struggle of the Palestinian people to achieve independence.

"We must also encourage NAM countries and other international communities that have not yet recognized Palestine as a state to recognize it immediately," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Third, NAM must prevent a repeat of Israeli brutality. One way to do this is to establish an international presence in Al-Quds, in order to monitor and ensure the safety of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories and maintain the status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif as a separate entity that is a site of the holy three religions.

"Indonesia hopes that NAM will also make the same proposal, as presented at the UN General Assembly meeting last month. NAM member countries that are members of the UN Security Council must be at the forefront in pushing this initiative," he said.

Foreign Minister Retno added that the purpose of establishing NAM was to end imperialism and colonialism. Therefore, NAM still owes to the Palestinian people a state that is independent and equal to other countries.

"Our struggle is far from over. But by working together, I believe one day Palestine will be free," he concluded.