Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 14/12/2015
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The international conference on Al-Quds, jointly organized by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to discuss the latest developments in the holy city, began in Jakarta on 14 - 15 December 2015.
In his address to the opening session of the conference, the Secretary General of the OIC, Iyad Ameen Madani, renewed his caution that the safety and sacredness of the holy sites in Al-Quds are closely linked to security and stability in the region. He stated that the continuation of Israel’s violation could widen and bring a religious dimension to the conflict and Israel alone should bear its consequences.
Madani called on the international community to assume its responsibility by providing international protection to the Palestinian people against the unprecedented aggression and daily crimes they suffer at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces. The Secretary General commented the position of the European Union in support of the two-state vision, particularly the latest decision to start labeling products from the Israeli settlements. He stressed the need to develop and strengthen these procedures with political resolutions, together with effective role of the EU and the international community which can put pressure on Israel to stop all its racial settlement activities that have constituted a major stumbling block to the realization of peace based on the vision of the two-state solution.
Madani stated that the international community is called upon at this critical stage to intervene responsibly, adding that the political track must be sponsored with the involvement of active and influential parties, starting with the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution providing a clear political term of reference and specific time frame to end occupation, including international guarantees and agreed mechanisms for the implementation of the UN resolutions.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, Riyad al-Maliki, addressed the conference and stressed that the world has failed to protect the Palestinian people the same way it has failed to demand accountability from the Israeli occupation forces about their repeated aggressions against the Palestinians. Al-Maliki added that the Palestinians themselves have warned repeatedly that the provocations of the settlers against Palestinian holy sites and Israeli measures to divide the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque spatially and temporally would undermine the current situation. He pointed that Al-Quds and its inhabitants are being attacked through the demolition of their homes, withdrawal of their residence cards and harassment.
At a press conference held after the opening session, Al-Maliki explained that when the issue is political it is confined to Israelis and Palestinians while others offer support from a distance. However, after the conflict has been turned to a religious one, all Muslims are being confronted because it would become a religious conflict between Muslims and Jews, and not just between Palestinians and Israelis alone. He stressed that Israel should bear the responsibility for this conflict.
For her part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi, declared that Indonesia has left no stone unturned to support the Palestinian issue at the United Nations by supporting the resolutions for Palestine’s accession as a non-member observer state in November 2012 and its participation in the Palestinian flag hoisting ceremony at the UN Building in New York. This is in addition to providing training and rehabilitation programmes for the Palestinian police and security organs.
On the sideline of his visit to Jakarta, the OIC Secretary General met with the Indonesia foreign minister. He expressed to her his appreciation of Indonesia’s role in supporting the activities of the OIC by hosting its events and meetings, particularly the current international conference on Al-Quds. Madani also lauded Indonesia’s role in supporting joint Islamic solidarity.
The Secretary General discussed with Foreign Minister Marsudi steps and measures to strengthen relations between Jakarta and the OIC. Both sides also discussed issues of common concern and other matters relating to coordination between both sides.
It should be mentioned that the two-day conference was attended by Ambassador Samir Bakr, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Palestine Affairs; Douglas Broderick, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Indonesia, representing the UN Secretary General; Saeed Abu Ali, Assistant Secretary General for Palestine Affairs at the League of Arab States; and the Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Desra Percaya.
