Indonesia blasts Netanyahu over ‘Greater Israel’ plan

ISTANBUL

Indonesia on Thursday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the “Greater Israel” plan, saying that it opposes the annexation of Palestine and other nations in the region.

“Indonesia rejects and strongly denounces the Israeli Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Greater Israel’ through the full annexation of Palestinian Territory and other countries in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on the US social media company X.

“Such a vision flagrantly violates international law and diminishes prospects for peace in Palestine and the Middle East,” the statement added, noting that peace in the region “can only be achieved by upholding the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”

Jakarta urged the international community to “reject all forms of annexation and permanent occupation by Israel,” and to “take concrete steps to halt Israeli policies that erode the prospects for peace.”

Last week, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza City, drawing a sharp backlash from governments and human rights bodies.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its deadly war in Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,700 people since October 2023.