Israel bars Indonesian foreign minister from entering West Bank

Ramallah, (IINA) - The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday that the Israeli authorities have prevented Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi from entering the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Anadolu Agency reported.
In a statement, the ministry said Marsudi had planned to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki during a scheduled visit to Ramallah.
The statement added that Jakarta’s top diplomat had also intended to open an Indonesian diplomatic mission in Palestine during her mission.
A source at the Palestinian Foreign Ministry told Anadolu Agency that Marsudi had been expected to arrive in Ramallah by helicopter from the Jordanian capital Amman, but that Israel had refused to grant her permission to enter the West Bank.
According to Palestine’s official WAFA news agency, Al-Malki is now expected to travel to Amman to meet his Indonesian counterpart in recognition of "Indonesia’s longstanding support for Palestine".
The Israeli authorities, for their part, have yet to comment on the incident.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has not had formal diplomatic relations with Israel since the latter’s establishment in 1948.
AG/IINA

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