Continued support for Palestine urged<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations Asian seminar and Non-
\nGovernmental Forum (NGO) forum on Palestine opened here yesterday
\nwith calls for continued mobilization of support for the
\nPalestinian cause against what is seen as continued Israeli
\naggression.<\/p>\n
During the opening ceremony, delegates said that despite its
\ngeographic distance, Asia remained an important source of support
\nfor the Palestinians.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas said: \"It is not only
\nthe parties involved in the conflict nor only the peoples of the
\nMiddle East who have a vital stake (in the peace process, it is)
\nalso the whole world that hungers for a new order of peace,
\njustice and equitable prosperity.\"<\/p>\n
Under the theme Achieving a Just, Comprehensive and Lasting
\nSolution of the Question of Palestine -- the Role of Asia, the
\nthree-day seminar and symposium is being convened by the UN
\nCommittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
\nPalestine People.<\/p>\n
Alatas said yesterday that convening the event here reflected
\nAsia's unremitting support for the cause of Palestinian self-
\ndetermination.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and
\nrefuses to establish relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
Alatas lamented that while there was great hope for peace
\nfollowing the Madrid peace process in 1991, it has recently
\nfaded.<\/p>\n
\"That hope grew dim as, during the past year, the peace
\nprocess faltered and fell behind schedule because of Israel's
\nadamant refusal to fulfill its commitment and treaty obligations.<\/p>\n
\"Israel continues to arrogantly set aside deadlines so that
\nkey provisions of the agreements remain unimplemented,\" he
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Israel sparked international ire last month with its
\ndevelopment of new settlements in occupied Arab East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
K. M. Khan, representative of the International Coordinating
\nCommittee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine, described the
\nrecent developments as \"explosive\" and urged NGOs to increase
\npressure on the Israeli government to stop the development.<\/p>\n
\"As NGOs attached to the Palestinian cause we should prevail
\nupon our respective governments to act in a manner so that
\njustice is achieved for the just cause of our Palestinian
\nbrothers and sisters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He then expressed confidence that the meeting would be the
\nbeginning of \"a new era of activities by Asian NGOs.\"<\/p>\n
Other notables attending the meeting in Jakarta are Alvaro de
\nSoto, assistant UN secretary-general for political affairs, Ibra
\nDeguene Ka, chairman of the UN committee for Palestine, and
\nSuleiman Annajab, member of the executive committee of the
\nPalestine Liberation Organization. (swe\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/continued-support-for-palestine-urged-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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