Soekarno, Jokowi, Palestine
“As long as Palestine’s freedom is yet to be delivered to Palestinians, Indonesia will stand against Israel’s oppression.”
“As long as Palestine’s freedom is yet to be delivered to Palestinians, Indonesia will stand against Israel’s oppression.” This pledge by Soekarno became popular once again after President Jokowi reiterated it in his opening speech at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds al-Sharif in Jakarta in May 2016.
President Jokowi wished to revive the collective memory of Indonesians on the importance of playing an active role in achieving freedom for Palestine. Why is Palestine so important to us and to the world?
First, Palestine is a sovereign country that has yet to gain its right to freedom. The migration of Jewish people from Europe to Palestinian soil since the late 18th century has turned into a nightmare for Palestine. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 recognized Israel and triggered wars and conflicts with Arabs.
The peak was when the state of Israel was officially declared in May 1948. It was a huge victory for Israel but was a tragedy (nakbah) for Palestinians. Palestinians wishing to survive were forced to flee to neighboring countries, including Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. Some fled to Europe and the US.
Second, oppression of Palestine did not cease when the state of Israel was established. Instead, it has become worse. Israel continues to expand its territory while Arab countries are powerless against Israel’s military onslaught with the full support of the US, the UK and other European countries. Palestinian territory continues to decrease.
Third, Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem cornered Palestine even further in peace talks. Many see that a two-state peace solution will reach a deadlock after Trump’s controversial move.
In the recently-published and controversial book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, Micahel Wolff wrote about Donald Trump’s political intentions. Since he was inaugurated as US President, Trump has been adamant about recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. There is also a manoeuvre afoot to give the West Bank to Jordan and Gaza to Egypt. This means that Trump wants Palestine to disappear from the map. No West Bank and Gaza means no Palestine.
For the next few years, the future of Palestinian freedom will continue to be a central issue. Members of the Arab League have held intensive talks on Trump and Israel’s controversial move. At the same time, there is a global resistance against Trump’s policy at both the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly.
Soekarno
In Indonesians’ collective imagination, Palestine has a respectable position. Palestine was among the first countries to recognize Indonesia’s independence along with several other Arab League member states.
In September 1944, Palestinian grand mufti Sheikh Mohammed Amin al-Husseini declared his support for Indonesia’s independence. He expressed his support on an Arab-language radio broadcast in Berlin. At the time, Palestine was facing Israeli aggression. Palestine’s move was followed by Egypt, which recognized Indonesia’s independence on March 22, 1946.
Indonesians have always remembered Palestine’s support and recognition for their resistance against all forms of colonialism. Even before Palestine has gained its independence, it had declared support for Indonesia’s. Therefore, it is important for Indonesians to stand together with Palestine in the struggle for its independence.
The preamble to Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution affirms, “Whereas independence is the inalienable right of all nations, colonialism must be abolished in this world as it is not in conformity with humanity and justice.”
Soekarno, as Indonesia’s founding father, truly understood what it felt like to be oppressed. Therefore, when Israel recognized and congratulated Indonesia for achieving independence, Soekarno gave a cold response. Hatta only conveyed thanks and was never interested in establishing a diplomatic relationship with the newly-independent Israel. Until today, Indonesia has never recognized Israel’s presence in Palestine, proof of its full support for Palestinian sovereignty and a rejection of all forms of colonialism.
Soekarno initiated the Asian-African Conference (KAA) in 1953 to show his opposition to the inhumanity of colonialism. Indonesia and Pakistan stood at the frontlines in opposing Israeli participation in the KAA as Israel was seen as the oppressor of Arab countries.
At the KAA in Bandung in 1955, Soekarno harshly rebuked all forms of colonialism, including Israel’s oppression of Palestine. Through the conference, Soekarno established an anti-imperialism axis to assist Asian and African countries to be free from oppression.
In 1958, Indonesia had the chance to qualify for the soccer World Cup. However, as Indonesia refused to compete with Israel – which could have been seen as a recognition of the state of Israel – Soekarno chose to withdraw Indonesia from the competition.
In the 4th Asian Games in 1962, Indonesia also refused to provide visas for Israeli athletes and officials as its foreign policy did not recognize Israel. As a result, Indonesia was given a temporary ban from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1963.
Soekarno’s fighting spirit for Palestine never faded. He used diplomatic relations with Asian and African countries to raise funds for Palestine. Indonesia also voiced its support for Palestine’s independence in two other organizations, namely the Indonesian Organization for Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia-Africa (OISRAA) and the Afro-Asian People\'s Solidarity Organization (AAPSO).
Jokowi
President Jokowi has continued Soekarno’s firm stance against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian soil. He has named Palestinian freedom a priority and has been committed since his campaign ahead of the 2014 Presidential Election. In his soul, an anti-imperialism flame burns, like Soekarno.
President Jokowi has made bold moves to support Palestine’s freedom and a two-state solution. In 2015, Indonesia served as host for the 60th Asian-African Summit, which specifically addressed the occupation of Palestine.
Palestine is the only member of the Asian-African Conference that has yet to achieve independence. Therefore, President Jokowi said, special and serious attention should be given to help it achieve independence.
In 2016, President Jokowi hosted the OIC Special Summit that issued “The Jakarta Declaration for Palestine.” Indonesia and other OIC member states agreed to fully support Palestine’s struggle for independence and urged Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The OIC also requested Israel not to tarnish the sanctity of Al-Quds al-Sharif.
When Donald Trump announced his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, President Jokowi sharply censured the US’ unilateral move. President Jokowi urged the US to overturn the controversial policy as it violated a number of UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and would only disrupt global stability.
Once more, Jokowi reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to standing together with Palestinians to achieve sovereignty and freedom. Palestine must be free from all forms of Israeli colonialism.
President Jokowi has specifically ordered the Foreign Ministry to make Indonesia’s position clear to the US Ambassador in Jakarta and to continue its diplomacy with Arab countries to oppose the US’s policy in Jerusalem.
At the OIC Special Summit in Turkey, discussing Trump’s policy on Jerusalem, President Jokowi urged OIC member states to firmly reject the US’ policy. This was important as several OIC member states have diplomatic relationships with Israel. Concretely, President Jokowi urged the countries to not move their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
President Jokowi also said that, if necessary, these countries should review their diplomatic relationships with Israel to protest Trump’s policy.
The move, President Jokowi said, should be complemented by a strengthening of humanitarian aid, capacity building and economic cooperation for the sake of Palestinian welfare.
At the global level, especially in the official forum of the UN, both in the Security Council and General Assembly, President Jokowi has urged all countries to work together to achieve Palestinian independence.
These moves initiated by President Jokowi to help Palestine are extraordinary and must be appreciated by OIC member states.
In the future, however, President Jokowi must continue to be proactive in the struggle to achieve Palestinian freedom: first, Indonesia must push for a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and several other factions. Palestine’s domestic unity is an absolute priority as the reconciliation effort initiated by Egypt seems to be in a deadlock. Indonesia must serve as a mediator in the reconciliation of Hamas and Fatah, especially in establishing a platform for state ideology, a constitution, form of government and the organizing of a free, fair and honest election.
Second, Indonesia must play an active role in raising funds for Palestine as the US has threatened to freeze its routine aid for Palestine. Indonesia can initiate a fundraising effort with OIC member states.
Third, Indonesia and other OIC member states must follow up the US’ crushing defeat at UN Security Council and General Assembly on Jerusalem by serving as a mediator and facilitator of two-state solution talks.
ZUHAIRI MISRAWI
Nahdlatul Ulama young intellectual; Alumni of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt