tempo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Foreign Ministry explained that the country has an opportunity to become a direct mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite this desire, the ministry said Indonesia has so far failed to play that role.
L. Amri Jinangkun, head of the International Law and Treaties Bureau, said Indonesia has so far mainly used diplomatic channels rather than mediating directly between the parties involved. “We’re not there yet,” Amri said at a press conference at the ministry’s office in central Jakarta on Monday (22/7).
Amri said Indonesia has played many roles in broad and specific areas of diplomacy — for example, Retno Marsudi was appointed special envoy to meet with warring parties with several member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — but Indonesia has yet to act as a mediator.
Meanwhile, Abdul Kadir Jailani, director-general of the Asia-Pacific and Africa bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he frequently hears Indonesia’s desire to become a direct mediator as it seeks to participate in maintaining the world order. But Kadir said every conflict has its own dynamics that must be taken into account. Kadir believes certain countries are better positioned to play a bigger role.
“It’s not that Indonesia doesn’t want it, but we are also looking at the current political situation. So we need to be realistic and pragmatic,” he said.
Abdul Kadir said that in addition to the aforementioned examples, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also frequently conducts diplomatic activities abroad on the Palestinian issue together with foreign ministers of various countries, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
“This demonstrates our proactive role. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always pushed for an end to the current violence in Gaza, ensuring the unhindered distribution of humanitarian aid, and ultimately achieving a two-state solution,” he said.
Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are continuing this week, with an Israeli team due to leave no later than July 25. Netanyahu’s office did not say where the talks would take place.
Nabila Azzahra
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