Israel Denies Indonesian Foreign Minister Entry to West Bank

Israeli authorities denied entrance to the occupied West Bank to an Indonesian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Sunday morning.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Marsudi was scheduled to visit the occupied Palestinian territory and meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah.

Matsudi was also scheduled to inaugurate an honorary consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah.

The Palestinian Authority statement added that al-Maliki traveled to Jordan on Sunday morning in order to meet with her in Amman instead.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the incident.

However, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Marsudi was turned away due to her refusal to also meet with Israeli political figures during her trip.

Israel controls access to the West Bank, which can be reached via the main checkpoint outside Jerusalem on the road coming up from Ben Gurion International Airport, or at the Allenby Bridge over the Jordan River, on the road from Amman.

Israel has denied foreign diplomats entry to Palestinian territory numerous times over the years. Earlier this month, Israeli authorities denied a delegation of Belgian lawmakers entry into the blockaded Gaza Strip.

(MAAN)

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