Indonesian FM Calls for Solidarity Day for Palestinian Victims of Illegal Settlement

New York, MINA – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi Called for community to stop Israeli illegal settlements in Palestine, with establishing International Solidarity Day for the victims.

“The continued development of illegal settlements by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories is unacceptable,” FM Retno said while chairing the Arria Formula meeting, at the UN Headquarters, New York, Thursday.

Before Indonesian FM conveyed, Israel’s illegal settlements continued to increase from around 110 thousand in 1993 to 620 thousand in 2017.

It shows that the continued increase in illegal Israeli settlements is a major obstacle to achieving peace between Israel and Palestine.

Although the current situation is very difficult, said Indonesian FM, all parties cannot be discouraged. “International community must not lose hope of being able to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through negotiations and dialogue,” she said.

Furthermore, Indonesian FM conveyed three things regarding illegal Israeli settlements, namely: first, the construction of illegal settlements in Palestinian territories including in East Jerusalem further diminished two-state solution.

Second, the construction of illegal settlements is a source of various violations of law and human rights against Palestinian people. Thirdly, international community has responsibility to stop Israeli illegal settlement policies.

For this reason, it needs great pressure from international community, one of the efforts is to establish an International Solidarity Day for Victims of Illegal Settlements.

The “Arria Formula” meeting is one form of informal UN Security Council meeting aimed to examining an issue that is considered complicated and requires a breakthrough by presenting resource experts through interactive dialogue.

The meeting themed “Israeli Settlements and Illegal Settlers: The Core of Occupation, the Crisis of Protection, and Barriers to Peace,” presented a number of prominent speakers, including Palestinian peaceful resistance movement activist Mohammed Khatib, who conveyed his views via video message.

The holding of a special meeting on Palestine in the Arria Formula format under the Indonesian Presidency is one form of Indonesia’s special attention to Palestinian issue, which is also one of Indonesia’s priorities as a UNSC membership.

The meeting was attended by all UN Security Council member states and other UN member states as well as representatives of international organizations and UN agencies. (T/Sj/R04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)