Indonesia conducts diplomatic efforts to liberate Al Aqsa

Indonesia is conducting diplomatic efforts that can be mobilized to liberate the Al Aqsa Mosque compound from Israeli control, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi affirmed.

"We will take all efforts to stop violence by the Israeli forces at the Al Aqsa Mosque grounds. Any restriction on Muslims entering the mosque is unacceptable," Marsudi said here on Thursday.

The Indonesian government rejected any form of violence and violation of human rights, including the killing of congregation members who were seeking to exercise their right to conduct religious duties at the mosque.

Israel has decided to remove metal detectors that it had placed at the entrance to the mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem and replace them with more advanced surveillance cameras.

Israel is yet to revoke restrictions on the entry of Palestinians in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, as restrictions trigger tensions.

Indonesia has also urged the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the Al Aqsa Mosque compound crisis.

The OIC General Secretariat will hold an emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, on 1 Aug 2017 to discuss the latest developments in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque.

"Indonesia urges the OIC to immediately conduct a special session to discuss the crisis," the minister pointed out.

In addition, Marsudi on Wednesday (July 26) afternoon communicated with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss the Al Aqsa crisis for approximately 35 minutes.

China has become the chairman of the U.N. Security Council.

"During Chinas presidency of the Security Council, I hope the UN Security Council can do something for the mosque," she said.

Indonesia, during the UN Security Council open debate in New York, on Tuesday, had earlier called on the international society to support and protect the Palestinians right to worship following the crisis at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, Palestine.

"Indonesia cannot accept the use of violence and tolerate any systemic violence and violation of the basic rights of the Palestinian people, including their rights to worship," Indonesias Permanent Representative to UN Security Council Triansyah Djani said, as quoted in a release from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received here, on Wednesday.

In his statement during an open debate focusing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Djani remarked that Indonesia had condemned the aggression and the violation of human rights by the Israeli forces that had led to the deaths of several Palestinians and injuries to more than a hundred.

Indonesia has also condemned the Israeli authority for restricting access to Muslim brothers and sisters of Palestine to worship at the Mosque, thereby violating the freedom to worship.

"The international community must find options to ensure that the mosque complex comes under international supervision and protection of the UN, so that all worshipers will be able to perform their religious activities in harmony and peace," Djani noted.(*)   Source : ANTARA