Indonesians Contribute Some US$150 Thousand To Palestinians

JAKARTA, June 22 (Antara) - Indonesian Muslims have contributed Rp2 billion, or about US$150,285, to Palestinians, and the funds have been channeled for organizing various activities during the holy month of Ramadhan and other humanitarian programs in Palestine. A statement from Palestinian Function at the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, Nico Adam received by Antara here on Wednesday said every year, Indonesian Muslims have expressed keenness to provide food to the Palestinian people in Al-Aqsa Mosque, but it was never realized due to a ban imposed by the Israeli Authority. According to Adam, at the start of Ramadhan this year, there was a ban on breaking the fast within the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but in the second week, the ban was removed. After receiving the information, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman directly coordinated with Abdillah Onim, an Indonesian citizen in Gaza, and Abeer Zeyad, a participant of capacity building training organized by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was a resident of Jerusalem, to provide food to the Muslims to break their fast at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. "All praises and thanks to Allah. Finally, the Indonesian Muslims' wishes to share food with the Palestinian Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy month of Ramadhan has been realized," Onim noted. Until the last week of Ramadhan, he and Zeyad broke their fast thrice along with at least 1,800 Palestinian Muslims, and this was supported by the aid from Indonesian Muslims. Onim also held several other activities, such as distributing basic commodities, education funds through foster care programs, and diesel oil for 140 mosques in Gaza. More than Rp2 billion, or about US$150,285, provided by Indonesian Muslims was spent to organize these activities.