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Indonesia may cancel trade deal with Australia if embassy moves to Jerusalem

October 17, 2018 at 1:15 pm

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi [Twitter]

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi yesterday expressed his country’s concern over Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s remarks that the country may move its embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.

Marsudi called on the Australian government to respect the peace process and UN Security Council resolutions issued in this regard.

“Indonesia reiterates that [the political status of] Jerusalem is one of six issues that have to be negotiated and decided as a sustainable solution,” she said.

“Indonesia asks Australia and other countries to continue supporting the Palestine-Israel peace process in accordance with the principles that have been agreed and to not take steps that may threaten the peace process and world stability.”

READ: Indonesia to protest against Israel ‘Nation State Law’

The Australian Broadcasting Corp. broke the news yesterday that should Australia make the move, Indonesia could put on hold a landmark free trade pact, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which is scheduled to be signed later this year.

The Indonesian minister revealed on Twitter that she had summoned the Australian ambassador in Jakarta the same day and “conveyed Indonesia’s strong concern” as well as “question[ed] the merit of Australia’s announcement on the issue of Palestine.”

US embassy moved to Jerusalem: a time bomb - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

US embassy moved to Jerusalem: a time bomb – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]