Indonesia urges European support for two-state solution

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi called on European countries to support the implementation of the two-state solution as the sole means of ending the conflict between Palestine and Israel.

She made the statement during a meeting between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several European countries in Brussels, Belgium, on May 26, as quoted by a press release from her ministry on Tuesday.

“This meeting is very important amid the increasingly deteriorating situation in Palestine and Israel’s increasing disregard for ICJ decisions,” Marsudi said, referring to decisions made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the recent acts of Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The ICJ ordered Israel on January 26 to take specific measures to prevent the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in the enclave. On May 24, the court ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah—a city in southern Gaza—and withdraw from Gaza.

Marsudi said that Indonesia urged the OIC and European countries to continue to press for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“We must make efforts so that Israel complies with the ICJ’s decisions, including stopping Israel’s military offensive in Rafah. Without this, it will not be possible to carry out the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid,” she remarked.

Marsudi also underscored the crucial role of the UN Security Council.

“I intentionally conveyed this since several countries that attended the meeting are members of the UN Security Council, such as the UK, Algeria, the UAE, and Slovenia,” she said in the press release.

Marsudi urged European countries to support the work of the UNRWA, considering that the role of the UN agency for Palestine refugees is important for preventing the humanitarian situation in Palestine from worsening. She also emphasized the importance of recognition from countries for Palestine and support for its full membership in the UN.

“I emphasize the importance of all countries using their influence so that a veto regarding Palestine’s membership in the UN does not occur again in the UN Security Council,” she stated, adding that Palestine’s membership in the UN will help Palestine build its country.

Marsudi underscored the importance of Palestinian unity and support for reforms carried out by the Palestinian government, which will contribute to the process of realizing the two-state solution.

The implementation of the two-state solution is becoming increasingly important, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his rejection of the solution.

During Sunday’s meeting, all parties agreed to a common commitment to realizing the two-state solution as the only way to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict. The OIC countries also commended Norway, Spain, and Ireland for their decision to recognize Palestine. Slovenia is reportedly taking a similar step.

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The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials from several IOIC member states: Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Palestine, which was represented by its new prime minister, Mohammad Mustafa.

They stressed the significance of those recognitions in achieving the two-state solution and urged other European countries to recognize a Palestinian state at the earliest.

“All countries agreed on the importance of empowering the Palestinian authority and supporting the reforms carried out by the Palestinian authority,” Marsudi stated.