Indonesia deeply disappointed by American veto
Indonesia deeply disappointed by American veto
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday expressed disappointment at the United States' decision to veto a United Nations Security Council Resolution which calls on Israel to halt its plans to seize Arab lands in East Jerusalem.
"It is deeply disappointing that the United States thinks it is necessary to veto something the initiators, the Non-Aligned Movement caucus in the Security Council, including Indonesia, considers a clear violation of the previous agreements and also deviates from earlier Security Council decisions on Israeli settlements," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said.
The U.S. on Wednesday vetoed a draft resolution sponsored by the NAM caucus in the Council -- Botswana, Honduras, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda -- which called on Israel to stop the planned expropriation of 53 hectares of Arab lands occupied since the 1967 war.
The Israeli plan also directly violates Security Council Resolution No. 242/1967 which demands Israel's withdrawal from all occupied lands.
Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal capital, a claim unrecognized by the UN and the world community.
"The voting shows 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council agree with the resolution, including those holding veto powers," Alatas said referring to the support from permanent members Britain, China, France and Russia to the draft resolution.
"It is very clear that in this case the United States' position is an isolated one," he added.
Wednesday's veto was the first time Washington had used one in five-years. The last time was in 1990 when the United States vetoed a resolution which also could have proved adverse to Israeli interests.
The head of the Islamic Solidarity Committee, Lukman Harun, in a statement said his organization strongly condemned the U.S. veto.
Washington's veto of a decision supported by the majority of the Security Council shows "the U.S. is a defender and protector of an aggressor and terrorist country in the Middle East, which is Israel," Lukman said.
The Islamic Solidarity Committee, which gained recognition for mobilizing mass support and funds for the plight of Bosnian Moslems, further urged "Islamic countries not to recognize the state of Israel until it withdraws from the territories occupied since the 1967 war."
Jakarta still refuses to acknowledge the existence of Israel as a state.
Later yesterday, around 100 Moslem youths staged a noisy protest outside the American Embassy here to denounce the veto.
Gathering after Friday prayers at the nearby Istiqlal Grand Mosque, a group of youths calling themselves the United Solidarity Action for Palestine Moslems, said Washington's decision was influenced by Israel's Jewish lobby.
In a lively, but orderly and short demonstration, lasting half an hour, the protesters read a statement to the crowd which called for Moslems to boycott U.S. interests in Indonesia.
"We support fully the attitude of the Indonesian government which supported the Security Council resolution," the statement said.
The students chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) and unfurled banners and placards, some of which read "U.S., Your Veto Hurts Moslems", "Your Veto Kills Human Rights" and "America, Stop Being the Slaves of Jews".
The young men dispersed peacefully after handing their placards to the dozens of police watching them. (swe/mds)