Indonesia: At Palestine rally, clerics urge US boycott

In a massive demonstration in Jakarta on Sunday, Indonesian Muslims clerics called for a boycott of American products to protest U.S. President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Around 80,000 demonstrators, mostly dressed in white and carrying Palestinian flags, rallied from the capital's largest mosque to the national monument. They carried posters that read "Peace without Trump" and "Indonesia Unites for Palestine."

In a speech, Anwar Abbas, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), called on Trump to reverse his decision, as it was contrary to international justice, violated the human rights of Palestinians, and undermined peace efforts by the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which met in Istanbul last week.

"We support the outcome of the OIC conference that encourages a free Palestine and Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas read a petition before the demonstrators.

If the U.S. does not reverse its decision, he said, then they urge the UN to impose tough sanctions on it.

Abbas also urged the Indonesian House of Representatives to establish a special committee to review all US investments in Indonesia, and called on Indonesians to boycott all American and Israeli products in the country.

They also call on OIC and countries worldwide to increase humanitarian aid in the form of buildings, health facilities and infrastructure for the Palestinians.