TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas invited President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to visit Palestine to witness the conflict that has been ongoing in the country firsthand. The invitation was extended during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday evening, March 7, 2016.
Abbas said that the invitation is open for any heads of state who wish to see the decades-long conflict between Palestine and Israel. "Let the Palestinian know that the world supports them, that the world trying to provide help in ending the crisis they have been experiencing," Abbas said.
On the same occasion, Abbas extended his thanks to Indonesia that has answered Palestine's call to hold an OIC Summit in an attempt to find a solution for the Palestinian conflict and the conflict surrounding Al-Quds al-Sharif. Abbas also expressed the same gratitude to OIC Secretaey General Iyad Ameen Madani.
"Al-Quds is the heart of Palestine. There will be no Palestine without Al-Quds. What the Israelis had done with the holy site does not make any sense and the world will not let the aggression continues," Abbas said.
Abbas said that Israel's repeated aggression has brought nothing but suffering to Palestinians. "Many Palestinians were held hostage, damages caused by Israel also destroyed other important sites, like churches and historic landmarks,' Abbas added.
Meanwhile, Madani, speaking on behalf of OIC, appreciated President Jokowi's leadership during the two-days OIC Summit. "We are happy that Indonesia can become a symbol of Islamic community committed to help create peace in Palestine. What happens in Palestine is no longer a regional conflict, but global [conflict]," Madani said.
YOHANES PASKALIS
