Apriza Pinandita, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has sent letters to at least 30 of her counterparts around the world urging them to reject the Israeli government's plan to annex a large part of the West Bank, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
"Some of the foreign ministers and officials have responded positively and they acknowledge Indonesia's leadership on this issue. They have also promised to continue working together to push this issue forward," Achmad Rizal Purnama, the ministry's director for Middle East affairs, said on Wednesday.
Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah added that Indonesia remained absolutely clear that "the plan is illegal and contradicts international law and several resolutions issued by the UN".
"It threatens stability in the region and potentially puts back a conflict resolution that is based on the two-state solution," he said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Israel's plan to annex a large part of the West Bank emerged after United States President Donald Trump came up with the so-called "deal of the century" in January, which sees Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital and recognizes Israel's sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.
Earlier reports said that under the US plan, Israel would annex 30 to 40 percent of the West Bank. Israel plans to implement the plan on July 1.
The plan has been rejected by many countries, including Indonesia. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also urged all of its member states not to cooperate with Washington in implementing the idea in any form.