BKSAP Chairperson Fadli Zon delivers a speech in a Special Interview held by the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds. Photo: Dok/Man

The Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Indonesian House (BKSAP) Fadli Zon stated that extra efforts are needed to support Palestine amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. He also declared that Indonesia opposes normalization with Israel. He made the statement in a Special Interview program held by the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds (LP4Q), a forum that gathers members of parliaments around the world in support of Palestinian cause. 

“We will not let Israel exploit the current situation by continuing its illegal measures against Palestine,” Zon said in the event under the theme ‘Why Indonesia Can’t Normalize Relations with Israel?’, moderated online from Istanbul, Turkey, Monday (28/12/2020). 

Zon who is also the Vice President of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds (LP4Q) emphasized that to stand with Palestine is to stand with humanity. “It is not a debate of Arabs versus Jews or Islam versus Judaism. Such a perspective is totally mistaken. We are talking about the lands of the Palestinian people that were stolen by Israel for more than seven decades. It is not a conflict between two equal sides. It is an occupation by a powerful military state, armed and supported by the West, against impoverished, stateless and displaced people.," he explained. 

He went on to say that, for more than seven decades, the Palestinian people has been systemically oppressed, persecuted, discriminated against, and expelled from their homeland, living in squalor aching with the uncertainty of the future. “In short, the catastrophe that Palestinian people face - is one of the most shameful global injustices of our modern time. Palestine is the only country in the world to have remained colonized,” stated the politician from Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party. 

Regarding Indonesia’s position, in responding to the latest development of the Palestinian issues, Zon stated that Indonesia has taken firm measures in support of Palestine. “Indonesia’s unceasing support for Palestine –the parliament, the government, and its people– has never changed and will never change. Our constitution explicitly stipulates that all colonialism must be abolished in this world,” he said. 

On that occasion he also explained the concrete support from the parliament, the government, and the people of Indonesia towards the Palestinian cause. “the year 2020 and beyond, Indonesia’s support is unquestionable. The struggle of the Palestinian people is operated at the forefront of Indonesia’s foreign policy,” said the Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House. 

Responding to some Arab countries that soften their stance by normalizing their relations with Israel, Zon expressed his concern. “With Israel still carrying on with its violations, I am extremely worried about the normalization of some Arab countries. Such normalization will surely cast a deep gloom over the establishment of a Palestinian state. Rather than normalization, what is really needed now is tremendous political support for Palestine,” he said. 

Zon also warned of Israel’s strategy of targeting Muslim countries regarding normalization. In his view, Israel has been seeking every way to target Indonesia, by among others, luring the biggest Muslim-majority country in the world with financial assistance. “Indonesia will not use economic motive as an excuse for normalization and sacrifice its identity as a state that strongly opposes colonialism. The majority of Indonesians strongly reject the normalization,” Zon explained. 

“I guarantee that Indonesia does not recognize the normalization since it is constitutionally invalid,” Zon emphasized while also reminding that the normalization deal is really Israel’s political victory. Zon explained several strategic steps to mobilize political support for Palestine, among others, by expanding recognition of Palestine as a state and isolating Israel from international relations, including launching boycott campaign, divestment, and imposing sanction against Israel. 

The transcript of the interview can be downloaded at: 

http://dpr.go.id/dokakd/dokumen/BKSAP-2-aaaeb5b5449930f3a82d3f2760d4ece0.pdf