Legislator: Israel Lacks In Political Will

Jakarta, August 6 (ANTARA) - Israel does not have the political will to resolve the Palestinian problem because it barred the entry of a number of foreign ministers from Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) member countries into Ramallah, according to an Indonesian legislator. "This attitude shows Israel`s arrogance against sovereign states that are committed to helping resolve the Palestinian problem. By refusing the entry permits, Israel showed that it did not have the political will to resolve the conflict," Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I Mahfudz Siddiq said here on Monday. �Although there are no diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel, the country should not forbid the entry of foreign ministers, such as Indonesia�s Marty Natalegawa, into Ramallah. They should have engaged in dialogue and negotiations first," he pointed out. "Israel is once again doing political discrimination," Mahfudz said. As one of the initiators of NAM, he added, the Indonesian government must raise the matter with the international community and the United Nations. On Sunday, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa was scheduled to attend the Extraordinary Meeting of NAM Foreign Exchange in Ramallah in order to discuss the recognition of a Palestinian state and the establishment of the Declaration of Solidarity for Palestine. However, the meeting was cancelled after Marty and other foreign ministers from Malaysia, Cuba and Bangladesh were not allowed to pass through the West Bank on grounds that their countries did not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The journey to the capital of Palestine usually involves a flight to Israel, followed by a road trip through the heavily fortified border that the Israeli army controls. The NAM also provides helicopter services from Jordan to Ramallah, but the delegates must still seek permission from the Israeli government to enter the area. Meanwhile, the NAM Committee on Palestine strongly condemned Israel`s actions and asked the NAM Coordinating Bureau in New York to take appropriate steps to deal with the issue. Marty left for Jakarta on Monday.