REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the Israeli blockade of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

"The UN Security Council and the OIC must convene a meeting soon to put an immediate halt to Israeli measures at the Al Aqsa Mosque," the minister said in a written statement released on Sunday.

He noted that the security situation in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound has been worsening in the past few days.

All sides must exercise restraint and prevent the holy sites, including the Al Aqsa Mosque, from any form of violence, he stated.

Also read: Arab League chief says Israel "playing with fire"

"Whoever stays at a place of worship must have their safety guaranteed. Everybody must have their right to worship at a place of worship. There must not be a ban on this," he explained.

On Saturday (July 22), in a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi asked the US to press Israel to stop restricting Muslims' access to the Al Aqsa Mosque and committing violent acts there.

Marsudi revealed that she was very worried about the worsening security situation at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

Indonesia condemned the shooting by Israeli soldiers of three Palestinian youths to death.

She underscored the need to take prompt action to handle violence and tension. 

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika