REPUBLIKA.CO. JAKARTA -- Council of Indonesian Ulamas (MUI) rejects Hamas plan to open representative office in Indonesia. The country's highest Islamic authority is worried that the office will create internal conflict between two factions in Palestine.

"We object to Hamas office in Indonesia," the Head of International Affairs Department at MUI, Muhyiddin Junaidi, said on Wednesday, December 3.

Junaidi said Hamas office in Indonesia would not help Palestine achieving victory. He underlined that Indonesia only supported Palestine, not its factions, neither Fatah nor Hamas.

"Fatah and Hamas must unite to achieve international recognition," he said.

He asked Indonesians to consider wisely before allowing Hamas to open representative office. People must consider thw whole aspects including the negative impact.

"It's counterproductive," he said.

Earlier, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that Hamas office will cause friction between Hamas and Palestine Embassy in Indonesia. "Fatah and Hamas must unite to achieve Palestinian victory," said Director of Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Siti Mauludia.

During the presidential election campaign in July, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo promised that he would officially recognize Palestine as an independent state and that he would open an Indonesian diplomatic office in Palestine.

Hamas representatives visited the House of Representatives last week to talk on the plan. "Indonesia has supported our struggle. We should open a representative office in Indonesia," Hamas representative Abu Umar Muhammad said.

Chairman of House of Representatives Setya Novanto replied by saying that parliament supported Hamas' struggle. He is optimistic that Hamas will not face any difficulties in the process of opening a branch in Indonesia.

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