07 December 2017•Update: 07 December 2017
By Chandni Vasandani and Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday regrets the U.S. decision to move their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, acknowledging the contested city as the Israeli capital.
“Indonesia strongly condemns the one-sided claim made by the U.S. in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. We urge the U.S. to reconsider the decision,” Widodo said in a speech Thursday morning.
In an address from the Bogor presidential palace, the leader commonly known as Jokowi said the move announced by President Donald Trump threatens the stability of the region. He called on the UN to intervene on the issue.
Jokowi said he has also instructed Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to personally convey Indonesia’s stand to the U.S. Ambassador for Indonesia H.E. Joseph R. Donovan.
Meanwhile in another location, Marsudi in her speech at the Bali Democracy Forum strongly condemned the U.S.' recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, replacing Tel Aviv.
"President of the United States Donald Trump has announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Indonesia condemns this recognition," said Retno in her address to the 10th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) in Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang, Indonesia.
She showed the Palestinian scarf she wore as a form of Indonesian support and commitment to Palestinian people.
Marsudi added that Indonesia will always be together with the Palestinians to support the rights that have been taken away by Israel.
Separately, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Thursday also strongly rejected the move to acknowledge Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and the U.S. government’s plans to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical body said the move will trigger tension and destabilize the region even further.
“Trump is drawing the ire of Muslims around the world,” MUI Vice Chairman Zainut Tauhid said.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump announced his decision despite widespread international opposition to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
During his election campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
