Jusuf Kalla: FIFA U20 World Cup Momentum for Indonesia to Help Palestine by Allowing Israeli Team to Compete

JAKARTADAILY.ID – Indonesia could utilize the FIFA U20 World Cup as an opportunity to aid Palestine by welcoming the Israeli National Team to compete in the event.

In order to actively promote peace in the Middle East and advocate for the Palestinian people, Indonesia should utilize this moment to establish connections with both parties, including Israel.

Chairman of the Central Indonesian Mosque Council, M Jusuf Kalla, shared this idea during his visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he attended an iftar invitation with Cambodian Muslims alongside Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Through dialogue and peace-building efforts, Indonesia could demonstrate its commitment to fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people. The involvement of Israel in the FIFA U20 World Cup event in Indonesia could pave the way for peace efforts between the two parties.

Also Read: Welcome to Indonesia: This Is a Complete List of the 24 Participating Countries in the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup

Jusuf Kalla, a skilled conflict resolver, explained that the Arab-Israeli War has been ongoing for 70 years, with major conflicts in 1948, 1967, and 1973. Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were the primary defenders of Palestine's interests, but each time there was a conflict, Israeli control over Arab territories, including Palestine, increased.

Nowadays, it is difficult to expect these countries to advocate for Palestinian sovereignty, so dialogue and peace-building are the only viable options.

Jusuf Kalla emphasized that Indonesia must understand both parties to support the interests of the Palestinian people and push for a fair negotiating table.

This view is shared by several Arab countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which have begun to establish positive relationships with Israel. So far, only Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey have formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

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