Hamas Faction Expects Indonesia to Resist US Decisions

INDUSTRY.co.id - Palestinian faction hopes the Indonesian government (RI) to rally opinion rejects the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at a meeting of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"The Indonesian president will be present at the OIC emergency meeting and Indonesia has a strong position to influence and reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Dr Maher Salah in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (7/12/2017).

Maher accompanied by Hamas chairman Izzat Al Risheq and Osama Hamdan made the remarks when interviewed after a press conference on the sidelines of attending the United Malay National Organization (UMNO).

President Joko Widodo will attend the OIC meeting which discusses US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 13, 2017 in Turkey.

Maher said the Indonesian government could also mobilize people's angry expressions to reject the decision and do some of the things that Hamas would say.

"The Indonesian government is a friend of Palestine, we are now appreciating Indonesia both at international level and international organizations and as the biggest Muslim country we think Indonesia can do something," he said.

Maher insists his side needs a lot of supporters towards the Palestinians at all levels at both the political, media and financial levels.

"We expect Arab countries and Islamic countries to support us," he said.

In addition to attending UMNO's invite the Hamas group also met with Malaysian lawmakers and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato 'Sri Najib Razak.

Meanwhile UMAO Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, along with UMNO Youth doing 'long march' from Tabung Haji Mosque to the US Embassy refused the announcement of the country announcing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after Friday prayers.

On that occasion UMNO Youth handed over four memoranda which condemned the announcement of President Trump asking the United States to withdraw the decision, asking the United States to respect UN Security Council resolution 478 and to assess President Trump's statement that his party would negotiate with Israel and Palestine to portray only US hypocracy. (Ant)