Jakarta. Ex-Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal warned Indonesia to prevent US President Donald Trump from turning Gaza into one of his real estate megaprojects, following Jakarta’s membership in the US-backed Board of Peace.

Indonesia’s decision to join the Trump-led peace board has taken over the nation’s news cycle. Aside from Israel’s involvement in the board, Washington's blueprint for a renewed Gaza sparked questions. Dino — also a former Indonesian ambassador to the US — wrote a lengthy post in response to Foreign Minister Sugiono’s statement on why Jakarta participates in the peace club. He demanded Sugiono’s explanation on whether Indonesia could make sure that nobody is trying to profit from the Gaza reconstruction.

“Is there a guarantee that this process is not a Trump or international real estate in Gaza that neglects Palestinians’ rights?” Dino wrote on his social media account on Friday.

“How can we prevent the board from being clear of any business interests from external parties [who actually do not care about Palestine], who wish to turn Palestine into an object, not as the host in Gaza,” he said.

Overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza is on the freshly established Board of Peace’s to-do list. Trump recently had his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, present to the Davos forum on what Washington had in mind for the post-war Gaza. 

According to the presentation slides, the redevelopment will take place in four phases, starting with Rafah before gradually reaching Gaza City. The plan envisions a “New Rafah” with over 100,000 permanent housing units, equipped with at least 200 education centers, and more than 75 medical facilities. There is also the “New Gaza” that will boast coastal tourism, a transportation hub, as well as energy and digital infrastructure. However, Kushner admitted that this ambitious plan would boil down to Hamas demilitarization.

“Without security, nobody is going to make investments. Nobody is going to come build there. We need investments in order to start giving jobs. ... About 85% of Gaza's GDP [gross domestic product] has been aid for a long time. That's not sustainable," Kushner said at the peace board’s launching ceremony.

As for how financing goes, Kushner said that governments would make the first contributions. He went on to say how “there will be amazing investment opportunities” for the private sector.

The Jakarta Globe has reached out to the Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela for comments, including on what Jakarta had in mind to avoid this turning Gaza into a Trump real estate.

A day earlier, Nabyl had responded to questions of whether Indonesia had agreed to give the $1 billion to the Board of Peace. Reports showed that countries that wish to be a lifetime member in the peace club have to contribute $1 billion, of which the money will go toward redeveloping the war-torn enclave. If not, countries can only serve three-year terms. Nabyl said that Indonesia had not discussed any payment, while adding that there is no membership fee, especially for a temporary seat.

Before becoming president, Trump already earned a reputation as a real estate mogul. Most of his business ventures are in the conglomerate Trump Organization.

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