Indonesia leader calls on Muslim world to unite on Palestine

Participants pose for photographers during a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia,

Jakarta - Officials from 57 countries are meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, for a special summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that is focused on Palestine and Jerusalem.

By AFP

Published: Mon 7 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 8 Mar 2016, 7:42 AM

Indonesia's president on Monday urged a summit of Muslim nations to be part of the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than part of the problem.
President Joko Widodo, who heads the most populous Muslim nation, said the entire world is concerned by the deterioration of the situation in Palestine and criticised what he called Israel's "unilateral and illegal policies."
Officials from 57 countries are meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, for a special summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that is focused on Palestine and Jerusalem.
The Middle East quartet - consisting of the UN, Russia, United States and European Union - and permanent members of the UN Security Council are also represented. "The OIC should be part of the solution, and not part of the problem," Jokowi said in opening remarks to the summit. "If the OIC cannot be part of the solution to Palestine, then the OIC becomes irrelevant."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said his country doesn't waver in its belief that what Palestine needs is independence and the right to determine its own affairs.
"The complexity of the problems continues to emerge in the Middle East, but the condition of Palestinians has always been a concern for Muslims in the world. Resolving the Al Quds issue can create peace in the region," he said. President Omar Hassan Al Bashir was also among the leaders who attended the Jakarta summit.

Sudan's President Omar al Bashir, center, confers with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, as Yemen's President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi looks on as they prepare for a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Advertising

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, center, speaks during the plenary session of the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. Jokowi urged a summit of Muslim nations to be part of the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than part of the problem. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, front row right, joins other participants, first row from left, Yemen's President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Sudan's President Omar al Bashir, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and second row from left, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi for a group photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, front row eighth from right, and head of states, ministers and members of delegates pose for photographers during a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jakarta : Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, front row eighth from right, and head of states, ministers and members of delegates pose for photographers during a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. AP/PTI(AP3_7_2016_000004A)

JAKARTA: Participants pose for photographers during a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. Participants in the front row are, from left, Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Talal, Gambia's Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, Oman's Chairman of State Council Yahya bin Mahfgouz Al-Mundari, Yemen's President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Sudan's President Omar al Bashir, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani, Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain and Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj. AP/PTI(AP3_7_2016_000007B)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers his speech as Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, center, and OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani, right, listen during the plenary session of the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (L) delivers a speech in Jakarta during the plenary session of the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on the Palestinian territories on March 7, 2016. / AFP / POOL / AHMAD IBRAHIM

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (C) delivers a speech in Jakarta during the plenary session of the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on the Palestinian territories on March 7, 2016. / AFP / POOL / ACHMAD IBRAHIM, POOL

Foreign Ministers, from left to right, Afghanistan's Salahuddin Rabbani, Saudi Arabia's Adel al-Jubeir, Palestinian Riyad Al-Maliki, Indonesia's Retno Marsudi and OIC Secretary General Iyad Amin Madani talk during a group photo at the ministerial meeting of the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, March 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (C) delivers a speech in Jakarta during the plenary session of the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on the Palestinian territories on March 7, 2016. / AFP / POOL / Achmad Ibrahim

CORRECTION / Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (L) delivers a speech in Jakarta during the plenary session of the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on the Palestinian territories on March 7, 2016. / AFP / POOL / POOL / Achmad Ibrahim