JAKARTA, Sept 23 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto praised countries such as France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Portugal for recognising Palestine.
“Recognition of the State of Palestine is the right step on the right side of history. To those who have not acted, we say history does not stop,” he said in his speech during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting in New York City, the United States, on Monday, according to the Presidential Secretariat.
Prabowo urged that ending the war in Gaza should be the international community’s top priority, saying Indonesia was ready to contribute, including by deploying peacekeepers under a UN mandate.
“We must overcome hatred, fear and suspicion. We must achieve the peace humanity needs. We are ready to take part in this journey, and we are willing to provide peacekeeping forces,” he said.
The UN’s high-level conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was convened to reaffirm international support for a two-state solution and to mobilise backing for its implementation.
Delegates are expected to adopt an outcome document mapping an irreversible pathway towards a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question.
Prabowo voiced deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemned violence against civilians.
“Thousands of innocent lives, many of them women and children, have been lost. Starvation is looming. A humanitarian disaster is unfolding before our eyes.
“We condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians,” he said, while thanking France and Saudi Arabia for their leadership in convening the meeting.
Probowo has reiterated his country’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling it the only path to lasting peace.
“We must guarantee Palestinian statehood, but Indonesia also states that once Israel recognises the independence and sovereignty of Palestine, Indonesia will immediately recognise the State of Israel and support all security guarantees for Israel,” he said.
Prabowo stressed that the New York Declaration is a fair pathway to peace, stressing that recognition of statehood must bring genuine peace for all parties.
