Indonesian President Weeps, Calls for Palestine's Release

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto repeatedly called for the release of Palestine during a speech on Saturday at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the "Darussalam Gontor" Islamic institution in East Java. According to the official Indonesian news agency Antara News, Subianto emphasized that his country must become a strong nation to aid the oppressed Palestinians, stating that the ongoing attacks against them should spur the building of national strength.

During the event, the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdel Fattah A.K. Al-Sattari, presented Subianto with a Palestinian keffiyeh. After returning to the stage, Subianto was seen wiping his eyes with the scarf. Accompanied by the audience joining his calls, the president explained, "I apologize, I remembered our brothers and sisters in Palestine."

The event occurs against the backdrop of Indonesia's cancellation of its plan to send thousands of soldiers to an international stabilization force in Gaza. This marks a shift from his stance at the UN General Assembly in New York about a year ago, where he surprisingly concluded a speech with a Hebrew "Shalom," expressed support for a two-state solution, and declared Indonesia would immediately recognize Israel on the day a Palestinian state was recognized, while also stressing Israel's right to live in peace.