Indonesia, Spain Reaffirm Commitment to Protect Palestinian Cultural Heritage
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia and Spain have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening international efforts to protect Palestinian cultural heritage and preserve the identity of the Palestinian people during high-level talks held in Madrid.
According to an official statement issued on Thursday, Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon and Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun expressed their shared commitment while meeting on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Reconstruction of the Cultural Sector in Palestine, held in Madrid from July 15 to 16.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister Fadli Zon said Indonesia’s support for the Palestinian cause extends beyond religious solidarity and reflects the unwavering commitment of the Indonesian government, parliament, and people to the Palestinian struggle.
He said the discussions also focused on supporting the establishment of the International Alliance for the Protection of Palestinian Culture, aimed at safeguarding Palestinian identity and preserving its rich cultural heritage.
Zon commended Spain’s initiative in mobilising international support for the protection of Palestinian culture, describing it as an important step toward preserving the historical and cultural legacy of Palestine.
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun, in turn, praised Indonesia’s consistent support for Palestine and reaffirmed Spain’s strong commitment to standing with the Palestinian people. He noted that Spain, in cooperation with UNESCO, has actively supported cultural preservation efforts in conflict-affected regions and believes similar initiatives should be expanded for Palestine.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing international efforts to protect Palestinian heritage. UNESCO is currently developing programmes dedicated to preserving Palestinian culture, while the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in coordination with the Arab League, is implementing initiatives to strengthen international cooperation in safeguarding Palestinian cultural assets.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Fadli Zon also held a bilateral meeting with Palestinian Culture Minister Emad Al-Din Hamdan. The two ministers agreed to further enhance cultural cooperation under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in September 2025.
During the meeting, Zon announced Indonesia’s plan to establish a Palestinian Museum at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in Jakarta, describing the initiative as a symbol of Indonesia’s enduring support for the Palestinian people and its commitment to preserving Palestine’s cultural identity for future generations.
