Visa Rejection by Israel, the Impact of Supporting Palestine
3 June 2018 14:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives Deputy Chairman Taufik Kurniawan said the rejection of Indonesian citizens’ visa by Israel does not need to become a polemic.
According to him, the rejection is the consequence for Indonesia that supports the independence of Palestine and the prohibition of Israeli citizens to visit Indonesia.
"The rejection of the Indonesian citizen visa is a consequence, in connection with Indonesia which has also rejected the Israeli visa, and Indonesia is still consistent in supporting Palestine independence," said Taufik, in Jakarta on Sunday, June 3.
In addition, the absence of diplomatic relations with Israel, Taufik said, make Israel does not require negotiations to solve this problem.
"We hope that the rejection of Indonesian citizen visa does not affect our consistency in supporting Palestine independence," he said.
Taufik confirmed, the acceptance, postponement or even rejection of visa applications of other citizens to visit is the authority of each country. According to him, the rejection of Indonesian citizens' visa is detrimental to Israel because of a large number of Indonesian tourists who travel to Israel.
The National Mandate Party politician believes Israel has violated the UN Resolution stating that Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is a holy site of Muslims and world heritage.
"It should be able to be visited by all people from different parts of the world," he said.
Earlier, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly said in mid-May, the Indonesian government banned Israeli citizens from visiting Indonesia. He said the reason for the rejection of visa towards 53 Israeli citizens who would visit Indonesia was very sensitive.
"About 53 Israeli citizens who were rejected was right, it was the result of our clearinghouse decision, which we could not say, it is sensitive," said Yasonna at the Foreign Ministry office on Friday, June 1.
Yasonna said the visa that was rejected or accepted was the authority of the state especially related to Israel. He said Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Therefore, Yasonna considered the rejection of the nine Indonesian citizens who want to enter Israel is the authority of Israel.
ANTARA
