Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle presidential candidate Joko Widodo, the apparent winner of Wednesday election according to most quick counts, on Thursday called on the Indonesian people to pray for Palestine.

"I ask all Indonesian people to pray for the Palestinian people so they are given strength, physically and mentally, to maintain their sovereignty from Israel colonialism," he said at a press conference, as quoted by state run news agency Antara. "Hopefully God almighty will always be with the Palestine people."

Joko said he would meet with Palestine's ambassador to Indonesia. "I'm close with Palestine's ambassador and I will meet him to express direct support for Palestine and condemn Israel's attack on Gaza," Joko said. He also called on Indonesians to donate funds to Palestine through the embassy in Jakarta.

Agence France Presse reported Israeli air strikes against militants in Palestine have 60 people since since tuesday, including women and children. On Thursday, 14 were killed. The strikes were part of ISrael's response to a large uptick in rocket attacks over the past several says.

Joko says he sees Indonesia as an advocate for Palestine on the international stage. "Palestine is really meaningful for the Indonesian people, because Palestine is an Arab country, which belong to Arab League, which supported and acknowledged Indonesian independence," Joko said, as quoted by news portal Republika.co.id.

He said that Israel was guilty of human rights violations. "The situation in Gaza strip is really concerning, because there's mass killing," he said. He also called on the United Nations to condemn the airstrikes.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has no made any statement on the attacks. Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa has condemned.

"The military actions add to the burden of the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank," Marty said. "It should be understood that the problem was the occupation of Palestine by Israel, which should be put to an end through a peaceful negotiations to achieve the vision of a two state solution."

He said Indonesia will keep on cooperating with Palestine, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jokowi-calls-indonesia-pray-palestine/