Indonesian President Joko Widodo calls on Muslim world to unite on Palestine

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 “Jokowi” 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, US 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.”

Israel says a recent surge in violence is the result of a Palestinian campaign of lies and incitement. Palestinians say it stems from frustration from nearly a half century of Israeli military rule.

For decades, international efforts have failed to work out a lasting comprehensive agreement on the core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Jerusalem, borders, the fate of Palestinian refugees and security arrangements.