Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki
Indonesian President Joko Widodo received Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki on Monday at the presidential palace in Jakarta.
Al-Maliki expressed his country’s gratitude to Indonesia for their support during the meeting.
“Where the Palestinian issue is discussed anywhere in the world, I see Indonesia stood by us,” he said.
Israeli forces on Monday rounded up four activists, including a foreigner, during a rally in support of a Bedouin hamlet in East Jerusalem, which is at the risk of demolition by Israeli authorities.“Scores of activists stood up against an Israeli military force and bulldozers that stormed the Khan Al-Ahmar community and forced them out of the area,” Abdullah Abu Rahma, the coordinator of a local committee overseeing Israeli settlement building in the area, told Anadolu Agency.He said four activists, including a foreigner, were detained by Israeli forces.“We will stand up against any Israeli attempt to demolish the Khan Al-Ahmar community,” Abu Rahma said.On Sept. 5, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled to demolish the Bedouin community and evict its inhabitants.Israeli settlers destroy olive groves near NablusProtests won’t stop until Gaza siege lifted: HaniyehIsrael plans to expel some 10,000 Bedouin residents of what is known as the E1 Zone, which sits on 15 square kilometers (5.8 square miles) of land in East Jerusalem, to make way for housing units linking Jerusalem to the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.If implemented, the plan would effectively cut the West Bank in two, preempting the possibility of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.In early July, Israeli bulldozers destroyed a number of tents and other structures in Khan Al-Ahmar, sparking clashes with local residents.There are 46 Bedouin communities -- inhabited by some 3,000 residents -- scattered across Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.Under the 1995 Oslo agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), the West Bank -- including East Jerusalem -- was divided into Areas A, B and C.Area A falls under the administrative and security control of the PA; Area B falls under the administrative control of the PA and the security control of Israel; and Area C -- in which Khan Al-Ahmar is located -- falls under the administrative and security control of Israel.Israel’s Netanyahu threatens Hamas with ‘very strong blows’Israel bans fuel shipments into Gaza
Israel arrests four activists in E. J'lem Bedouin hamlet
The top diplomat also conveyed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' regards for Widodo and Indonesian people.
Al-Maliki also attended the solidarity week activities for Palestine which commenced on Saturday in Bandung city and capital Jakarta.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi accompanied al-Maliki during the visit.
"Palestinians thanked Indonesia for its continued support. Indonesia’s support is not just political it’s also economical," Retno said.
The Quneitra border crossing between Syria and Israel-occupied Golan Heights reopened on Monday after it was closed four years ago.The crossing opening "will help implement the disengagement agreement in 1974 between Israel and Syria, which focuses on the identification of a buffer zone and an area free of military forces between the two countries,” the Israeli military said in a statement.“At this stage, the crossing will be used only by UN forces to cross from Israel to Syria and vice versa," it added.Jordan and Syria reopen Nassib border crossingIn 2014, the Israeli army closed the Quneitra border crossing for "security reasons".“This is a positive step from both Israel and Syria,” Kobi Marom, an Israeli commander in the area, was quoted as saying by Israeli army radio.“But there are still two common problems which is the Iranian presence and the risk of Hezbollah starting to build its infrastructure in the Golan Heights,” he added.Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Middle East War.On Monday, the Jaber-Naseeb border crossing between Syria and Jordan was reopened after a three-year closure.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Bashr al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Syria, Israel reopen main border crossing