OIC calls for ban on Israeli products
The Islamic world has called on Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries and the international community to ban products made in or produced by Israel to put more pressure on Israeli to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.The call is part of a united statement condemning the Israeli occupation in Palestine, issued by the Islamic world at the 5th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Extraordinary Summit on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in Jakarta on Monday."Today, the leaders of the Islamic world present an agreement and a set of concrete actions for Palestine," President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said at the conclusion of the two-day OIC summit."OIC member countries condemn Israel’s actions. We call to end the illegal colonial settlement and support the independence of Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution," he said.All members reiterated their commitment to protecting Al-Quds Al-Sharif including in the form of financial support, Jokowi added. Six-hundred-and-five delegates from 55 countries and two international organizations, namely the United Nations and the European Union, produced two official documents presenting a unified voice to be adapted by its member states in support of Palestine.Jokowi said the documents also included support from all OIC member countries for a call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the organizing of an international peace conference to end the Israeli occupation.President Jokowi further said the consensus among OIC heads of state was stipulated in both documents.The first document, called "The Resolution", contains 32 points defining a commitment based on an agreed set of principles of the OIC in supporting Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.The second document, "The Jakarta Declaration", contains 23 points on the concrete steps for realizing the goals outlined in The Resolution.Jokowi said the summit was a collective effort to bring the issue of Palestine back on to the world's radar and along with it the importance of reconciliation within Palestine itself, which was divided between two factions, Hamas and Fatah.He said that despite having declared its independence in 1988, Palestine remained under Israeli's occupation and had not yet become a UN member country.The situation has become more alarming due to growing tensions, especially in Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem), which both Israel and Palestine claim as their capital city.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said isolating Al-Quds Al-Sharif from its resolution would take away the essence of the nation."Al-Quds is the beating heart of Palestine," Abbas said.Abbas conveyed heartfelt gratitude to Indonesia and the secretary-general of the OIC for their efforts in organizing the summit.Abbas called on the UN Security Council to increase efforts to solve the Palestine issue. He also urged the international community to mobilize all necessary support for the building of Palestine.OIC secretary-general Iyaad Ameed Madani said the results of the OIC summit had shown the concern of the international community and inspired all parties to push for progress in Palestine."It's not just a communique, but an action-orientated communique," Madani said about the two documents.Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said the set of documents was a political statement that was morally binding, however, there would be no sanctions imposed on member countries that did not implement them.
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