REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has appealed to several Middle Eastern countries to play a bigger role in supporting the cause of Palestinian independence.

"It (Palestinian independence) is inseparable from countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia," he stated when urged to comment on the issue at the Jakarta Convention Hall, which is the venue of the 5th Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation here on Monday.

Kalla said the countries must play a bigger role as they have a common background and share similar political and economic interests.

The vice president pointed out that Indonesia indeed had a strategic role to play, but it was not directly involved in a territorial conflict between Palestine and Israel.

In spite of this, Kalla remarked that Indonesia would nonetheless always lend support to the liberation of the Al Quds country from Israel colonialization.

"Indonesia along with other countries will certainly be the first to come forward to give support," he noted on the sidelines of the summit.

Indonesia has been urged by Egypt and Palestine to hold the summit, which is focusing on Palestinian independence.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had earlier stated that the situation in Palestine was worsening due to the occupation of Al Quds (Jerusalem) by Israel.

It is, however, undeniable that Palestine has been recognized by 137 countries in the world and has also become a UN observer country, she remarked, adding that the success came through a process being carried out by the international community, including Indonesia.

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