Muhammadiyah, through its Department of International Relations and Cooperation (LHKI), conducted the program of “Multicultural Dialogue and Peacebuilding on Palestine” in three cities namely Yogyakarta, Surakarta, and Jakarta, from December 11 to 18, 2024.
The program aimed to empower Palestinian youth by strengthening their ability to build peace through dialogue, negotiation, and non-violent mediation. This initiative is part of a broader effort called the Peacebuilding Lab for Palestine, launched by the LHKI in collaboration with the Muhammadiyah Department of Charity Management (LazisMu).
Secretary of the LHKI Yayah Khisbiyah, who was one of the program’s initiators, explained that this approach is new and innovative, and has never previously been conducted in Indonesia.
“Most of the support for Palestine has focused on humanitarian aid such as food, medicine, or international advocacy. However, Muhammadiyah, as a socio-religious organization, has limitations in reaching the parties directly involved in the conflict. Thus, we decided to take a people-to-people approach, focusing on empowering Palestinian youth,” said Yayah on December 14.
The program has received praise as a major breakthrough, especially since such initiatives are typically led by organizations in Europe, not Asia.
Yayah Khisbiyah emphasized that Muhammadiyah support for Palestine goes beyond the traditional methods.
“This program is a stepping stone aimed at empowering Palestinian youth to resolve conflicts independently and peacefully through non-violent means, rather than relying solely on traditional forms of support,” said Yayah.
Alongside education and healthcare, Yayah also highlighted the importance of economic empowerment for Palestinians.
“We believe that peace can only be achieved when communities are empowered through education, health, and economic opportunities. Non-violent conflict resolution is the key to ending the cycle of violence,” explained Yayah.
As part of this effort, Muhammadiyah is planning to establish a Palestine Museum to document the history and struggles of the Palestinian people. While the museum’s name is still being discussed, options like “Palestinian Nakba Museum” or “Palestinian Genocide Museum” are being considered.
“We hope this program will be the beginning of a sustainable effort. Muhammadiyah aspires to continue supporting Palestine, not only through humanitarian aid but also by strengthening Palestinian youth to help build a better future,” said Yayah.
The program is designed to inspire other organizations to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches to supporting peace in Palestine.
Meanwhile, Director of Cultural Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Lhoucine Rhazoui addressed the wider cultural impacts of the ongoing conflict in Palestine, pointing out that the war has influenced global perceptions of the region. He noted that the Jewish people in Israel have attempted to shape how the world views Palestine.
“This is why we need to promote a multicultural approach. Palestine is a region rich in cultural and ethnic diversity,” said Lhoucine.
He also praised Indonesia as an example of how people from diverse backgrounds can live together in harmony.
“Indonesia is the perfect example of how people from different backgrounds can live together peacefully,” Lhoucine concluded, noting that Indonesia’s experience could serve as a model for achieving peace and harmony between Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Palestine.
