Palestinian Ambassador Visits Tegal Regency, Explores Education and Humanitarian Cooperation
Tegal Regency has become a significant witness to the strengthening of diplomatic and humanitarian channels between Indonesia and Palestine. The Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdalfatah A.K. Alsattari, conducted an official visit to the area on Thursday (14/5/2026). The diplomat’s arrival was warmly welcomed by Tegal Regent, Ischak Maulana Rohman, at the Regent’s Official Residence.
This visit marks a historic milestone, as it is the first official trip by Abdalfatah outside the city on Java Island since he assumed office in January. The meeting served not only as a platform for greetings but also opened avenues for strategic coordination on humanitarian issues and regional cooperation potential.
Tegal Regent Ischak Maulana Rohman expressed his pride over the Ambassador’s presence. In the meeting, which was also attended by a delegation from the Indonesian Muslim Women Organisation (WMI), Ischak seized the opportunity to introduce Tegal’s local riches.
“This is a great honour for the people of Tegal Regency. In addition to discussing important agendas, we also introduced the region’s flagship potentials, from signature cuisine such as young goat satay and bogana rice, to tourist destinations like the Guci hot springs,” said Ischak.
Furthermore, Ischak emphasised that the solidarity of Tegal’s residents towards the Palestinian struggle is very real. This support is manifested through regular donations channelled via the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) as well as continuous moral support.
On the other hand, Ambassador Abdalfatah A.K. Alsattari expressed high appreciation for the consistent support from Indonesian society, particularly Tegal’s residents. One of the crucial points discussed in the meeting was the potential for cooperation in the education sector.
Abdalfatah hopes that in the future there will be scholarship programmes for Palestinian youth to pursue studies at universities in Tegal Regency. “We want to open wider doors of diplomacy through concrete cooperation, such as education, to help enlighten our nation’s generation who are currently facing difficult situations,” he stated through an interpreter.
The Founder and General Chair of the Indonesian Muslim Women Organisation (WMI), Aliefety Putu Garnida, explained that the choice of Tegal as the starting point for the visit was based on emotional closeness. The Ambassador’s presence was also accompanied by tangible social actions on the ground.
“After this official meeting, the agenda continued with community service in Cawitali Village, Bumijawa Subdistrict, on Friday (15/5). The Ambassador also stayed overnight in Guci to directly experience our tourism potential,” Aliefety concluded.
This visit is expected to serve as a catalyst for other regions in Indonesia to build impactful local-level diplomacy for international humanitarian missions.