JAKARTA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Foreign Minister said Monday his government will never establish diplomatic ties with Israel until it can reach a peaceful settlement with Palestine.

    Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle for nationhood.

    "We will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel until Palestine and Israel reach peaceful settlement," Hassan Wirajuda said at the parliament compound here.

    The government, he said, strongly condemned Israel's recent military operation in Gaza and demanded the release of arrested Palestinian officials.

    "The use of military forces has caused human impacts and is against the international law," said Wirajuda.

    In an earlier hearing with the House of Representatives' commission one overseeing foreign affairs, legislator Marzuki Darusman suggested a controversial idea of opening diplomatic ties with Israel to allow Indonesia's stronger role in helping the Palestinian people and settling conflicts in the region.

    The statement only triggered protest from fellow legislator Abdillah Thoha from the Islamic-based National Mandate Party (PAN).

    "It makes no sense to establish ties with Israel because the preamble of the 1945 Constitution bans us from opening diplomatic ties with any occupying country," said Thoha. Enditem