VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday (3/1/2018) that he would not exchange Jerusalem with money or gold. In addition, the Palestinians did not reject the negotiations. Spokesperson of the President, Nabil Abu Rudeina said that President Abbas wants negotiations under international law and the resolution states that East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.

This statement responds to the statement of US President Donald Trump in social media, if the Palestine is reluctant to negotiate. In addition, President Trump also threatens not to provide assistance to the Palestine. He made the point because of Abbas's statement that rejected US involvement in peace talks with Israel. If America does stop the aid, the impact is serious enough for the Palestinian government.

The amount of US aid to Palestine in 2016 reached nearly $320 million dollars for the construction and security of the Palestine. In addition to that assistance, the US provides security mission assistance in Gaza and the West Bank, which reached more than $300 million dollars. But the voice of the US representative at the United Nations, Nikki Haley is softer that the US will not give more money until the Palestine advances to the negotiation.

In addition to threatening the reduction of funds to the Palestine, President Donald Trump also threatens the termination of aid to Pakistan. He reasons that it is useless to provide 15-year assistance for Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that the United States is only covering up its failure in Afghanistan.

It is expected that Palestine does not depend on US aid. As a country that supports Palestinian independence, Indonesia can play a major role to invite countries to jointly support for aid-fund raising. The Palestinian independency on American aid makes Palestinian government has a stronger bargaining position in negotiations with Israel.