Indonesia Supports Palestinian Independence

Jakarta (News Today) - Indonesia’s constant social and humanitarian assistance and support to Palestine will strengthen the country’s independence, Social Affairs Minister Al Jufri said on Monday.

"Besides humanitarian assistance, Indonesia can inspire national unity to Palestine to reach its independence. If the Palestinian nation is still divided, independence will be difficult to achieve," the minister said in a statement issued by Social Affairs Ministry’s media center on Monday.

The social affairs minister said he was unable to accompany President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas because at the same time he was on a working visit to eastern Indonesia including North Sulawesi province from May 29-31, 2010.

Minister Al Jufri also dismissed the issue of the transfer of Indonesian hospital hospital construction site from the Gaza to West Bank. He said Indonesian hospital at Gaza was a symbol of international support and therefore Israel authorities could not do an arbitrary act to prevent or destroy the hospital.

"The world would be upset if medical facilities are made complicated. Palestine also needs protection for the elderly, widows, children, and civilians against violent acts committed by Israel," Al Jufri said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Saturday that Indonesia planned to build a hospital in Gaza worth Rp20 billion (over US$2 million) to increase health facilities in the region. Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with visiting Pelestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Merdeka Palace, Yudhoyono said Indonesia was ready to give any kind of humanitarian aid needed by Palestine.

"We will build a hospital in Gaza worth Rp20 billion in the hope it will increase public health facilities in Gaza," President Yudhoyono said.

Indonesia, he said, was also ready to continue to contribute to the development of capacity for the establishment of a free Palestinian state as it had been doing so far through a forum of Asian-African countries.

"I have also conveyed Indonesia’s readiness to become part of the peace process by playing the right role as wished by the Palestinian leadership," he said.

Source : kompas.com

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