OIC Extraordinary Summit Should Yield Concrete Decisions: Observer

Pengamat Politik Universitas Indonesia, Yon Machmudi Ph.D — University of Indonesia political observer, Yon Machmudi Ph.D.

Jakarta, 23 Jumadil Awwal 1437/ 04 March 2016 (MINA) – The upcoming extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should be able to produce concrete decisions to realize the independence of Palestine, according to a political observer.

“Let us say that the summit will produce a Jakarta Declaration. So, the declaration has to be implemented soon and be supported fully by the OIC member countries,” Yon Machmudi, lecturer of the University of Indonesia (UI), he said on Wednesday.

The occupation of Palestine by Israel is a serious problem that has to be solved fairly, he emphasized.

According to Machmudi, every member country of the OIC has a moral obligation to help realize an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Antara News.

The existence of OIC will be judged based on its success in helping to realize a free Palestine as the grouping was established in response to acts of vandalism by Israel on the Al Aqsa Mosque, he added.

“The Al Aqsa Mosque will be constantly threatened as long as Palestine does not have the right of self-determination, including the right to protect Al Aqsa,” the lecturer of the Faculty of Culture of the UI emphasized.

Since the establishment of the OIC 45 years ago, Palestine has still not gained its independence and, in fact, Israel has been more brutal in occupying Palestinian land, he pointed out.

Therefore, it is time for Indonesia to play a crucial role by initiating a new declaration that could offer a concrete solution for the independence of Palestine and, in particular, for the protection of Al Aqsa Mosque, he remarked.

Indonesia should initiate a new leadership in the OIC to push for a new commitment to supporting the realization of Palestine’s independence by conducting synergy at the international and regional level, he suggested.

“The support must be clear, concrete, and measurable, so the meeting will not end merely on paper. Hopefully, “the Jakarta Declaration” will become an historic moment for the Palestinian people,” Yon Machmudi, who gained his PhD degree from the Australian National University, added. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)