Jokowi calls for unity

Meeting of minds: Jokowi shaking hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the 5th OIC Summit in Jakarta. — Reuters

Jakarta: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on all Orga­nisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries to unite in an effort to carry out reconciliation in Palestine.

The President reminded that the OIC was established to support the struggle of the Palestinian people.

The OIC has to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem, he went on.

Jokowi made the call in his remarks during the OIC Extra­ordinary Summit at the Jakarta Convention Centre in Senayan, Central Jakarta, yesterday.

In the beginning of his speech, President Jokowi quoted the late president Sukarno, who asserted that as long as Palestine had not achieved its independence, Indonesia would continue to fight against Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“We, the Indonesian nation, are consistent with our promises. Today, Indonesia is standing up together with other OIC member countries to continue the unfinished struggle,” said Jokowi.

The President further said the world was apprehensive about the worsening situation in Palestine.

There are many illegal and unilateral policies there, and Israel’s collective punishment has caused greater difficulties for the Palesti­nian people, he went on.

Jokowi also expressed his concern about the limited access of Muslims to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

He said the Palestinian people were becoming more powerless, adding that the humanitarian situation in occupied territories has continued to worsen.

“We must jointly face the situation; we have to fight it together. For the struggle, unity is needed. We have to unite, Palestine must unite, Palestine must carry out reconciliation.

“Indonesia is ready to help the reconciliation process,” said Jokowi. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network