80000 Indonesians says no to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by carrying a wide protest

Jakarta, December 17: Flow of protest against declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has paced as in Indonesia around 80000 protestors were on the roads to peacefully protest against US President Trump’s decision declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The people, wearing white robes and carrying banners reading 'Indonesia unites for Palestine', rallied in Jakarta in protests organised by the country's top Muslim clerical body.

The Muslim clerics have also called on Indonesians to stop buying American products until the US revokes its move. Police said, the crowd marched peacefully to the US Embassy adding that 20,000 police and military personnel were deployed to ensure security. This was the biggest protest in Indonesia since Trump's controversial move to reverse decades of US policy.

‘United States now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It's a move that upends decades of U.S. policy,’ was the announcement made by the U.S President Donald Trump which invited lots of criticism but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed this as ‘historic day’ for Israel. Also President Trump announced to move the U.S Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Along with Indonesia, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan had opposed this decision saying “Recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital will not advance US national interests. Nor will it further efforts to secure peace in the Middle East," “Condemnation of Trump's move poured in from all capitals of Islamic countries over Trump's announcement, which could ignite violent protests across the Islamic world.”

Additionally the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC had also rejected the United States' decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Speaking on the opening of an extraordinary OIC summit in Istanbul, the group's secretary general, Yousef al-Othaimeen, urged Muslim leaders to work together to present a united response to the move.