JakartaPost-Mar 13, 2023
Despite hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup, in which an Israeli soccer team was slated to come to and participate in the sporting event, Indonesia would continue supporting the Palestinian cause, a senior official said. “Indonesia’s position on the issue of Palestine has never changed and remains consistent. Indonesia is one the few countries that is consistent in supporting the cause of the Palestinian people,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said in a press conference on Friday. He said Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi had also repeatedly campaigned for the Palestinian cause in multiple multilateral forums, such as at the United Nations Security Council earlier in January this year and at the UN Human Rights Council last month, among others. Faizasyah said while FIFA had already decided on matters surrounding the participating teams in the U-20 and the rules surrounding the sporting event, it would not affect Indonesia’s stance on Palestine. “Indonesia hosting the U-20 will not weaken Indonesia’s consistent position on Palestine,” Faizasyah said. Indonesia will host the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup from May 20 to June 11 this year in six host cities, namely Jakarta; Palembang, South Sumatra; Bandung, West Java; Surakarta, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; and Gianyar, Bali. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/03/13/ri-reaffirms-support-for-palestine.html.
