VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will attend a virtual meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to discuss Israel's plan to annex Palestinian territories, the foreign affairs ministry noted in a statement, Tuesday.

The OIC's Extraordinary Ministerial Conference, to be held online on Wednesday (June 10), will be chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in his capacity as chair of the OIC Executive Committee.

Discussions at the meeting will center on the current situation in Palestine, specifically Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank, Palestine, after an agreement to form a coalition government between Benjamin Netanyahu and General Benny Gantz.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Marsudi will express the Indonesian government's views on the issue in addition to proposals on concrete steps that the OIC should contemplate on to avert Israel’s planned annexation.

The OIC foreign ministers are expected to issue a resolution at the end of the meeting.

The resolution will encompass lending encouragement to all OIC member states to take political, legal, and economic steps in response to Israel's planned annexation of Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian government has reportedly submitted a resolution at the United Nations to denounce Israel's planned annexation of the West Bank and Jordan Valley.

Earlier, during a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council on May 27, Minister Marsudi had called on Israel to stop its annexation plan.

The minister also contacted UN Secretary General Antnio Guterres, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, and several foreign ministers from members of the OIC, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), European Union (EU), and other international organizations and institutions in connection with the issue.

"In a letter (whose copies I sent to high-ranking officials from friendly countries), I mentioned that the annexation not only threatened peace and stability in the region but also dampened all efforts to find a solution to the Palestinian issue," she stated. Hence, the minister called on the international community to work hand-in-hand to uphold commitments to mutually agreed international law and agreements.

Indonesia, a firm supporter of Palestine's struggle for independence, has no diplomatic ties with Israel as Indonesia's Constitution has highlighted the nation's anti-colonialism policy. (ANTARA)