TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that she has met the Ambassador of the United States to Indonesia, Joseph Donovan, to discuss the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The meeting was held in Banten on Thursday, December 7.
“Since I was still hosting Bali Democracy Forum earlier, the meeting was held at ICE, Banten,” Retno told reporters in Bogor today.
US President Donald Trump said that Jerusalem is the new capital of Israel, replacing Tel Aviv. The action was followed by the decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Read: 5 Reasons Why Jerusalem is Not the Capital of Israel
Mr. Trump’s policy has sparked strong criticism from the international community. Many consider that the US President has made the wrong move that could escalate conflicts in the Middle East considering the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine over the territory.
FM Retno went on to say that at the meeting, Indonesia expressed that it strongly opposed the decision.
The Minister said that Ambassador Donovan acknowledged Indonesia’s stance on the issue and promised to forward the message to Washington. He, however, underscored that the Trump administration will not change its policy.
FM Retno added that she earlier had a discussion with the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to ask whether the policy could be reversed.
“Tillerson has said that the decision was already made by President Trump. Until the final hours, we had been trying very hard,” FM Retno Marsudi said.
ISTMAN MP
