MUI Stresses Jerussalem As Palestinian Capital

JAKARTA, Dec 18 (Antara) - Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Ma'aruf Amin has stressed that East Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine. Amin made the statement when leading the Defense Palestine Action rally in the National Monument (Monas) area in Jakarta on Sunday. In his oration in front of hundreds of thousands of Muslims crowding the area, the MUI chairman urged US President Donald Trump to lift his unilateral statement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. "We urge the whole world to exert pressures on Trump so that he would cancel his decision. We are confused to see Trump, maybe he has lost hearing," he said. On the stage, Amin was accompanied by a number of figures. Support for Palestinian independence is again voiced by a number of countries, including Indonesia. He stated that the Indonesian people always support Palestine in the fight for independence, and recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. One of the forms of support was reflected in 'Indonesia United for Palestine' rally held on Sunday, Dec 17, 2017 in the Monas area. In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said a decision of US President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital is wrong and fatal. "We are aware that President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital is not only wrong, but also fatal," he said while speaking before the major rally. The Governor reminded that Palestine and Egypt were among the first nations to recognize Indonesia's Independence proclaimed in 1945. Therefore, Indonesia is consistent in supporting Palestine in the fight against Israeli colonization. "Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine. Jakarta belongs to Indonesia, Jerusalem belongs to Palestine," the governor said, adding that Indonesia rejects Trump's unilateral decision on Jerusalem. Zukifli Hasan, chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), said that solidarity with the struggle of Palestinian people is part of the implementation of Indonesia's state ideology Pancasila and Constitution. "The Constitution states that colonization on Earth must be eliminated because it is against humanity. Defending Palestine is an implementation of the Constitution," Hasan said. What is happening in Palestine is colonization by Israel, and colonization is a gross crime and a crime against humanity, he said. By supporting Israel colonialist, Trump has betrayed the US Constitution which states that freedom is human rights, he added. Regardless of religion, race and background, most of the Indonesian people stand with the Palestinian people, he said. The pro-Palestine rally was attended by members of many Muslim mass organizations, including Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and second largest Muhammadiyah. Among prominent figures also present in the rally were Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, former sports and youth affairs minister Adhyaksa Dault, noted poet Taufik Islmail, and politicians like Hidayat Nur Wahid, Fadli Zon and Fachri Hamzah, as well as prominent ulemas like Bachtiar Nasir, Abdullah Gymnastiar and Zaitun Rasmin.