Govt urged to consider relations with Israel<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of the Nahdlatul
\nUlama organization and a controversial politician, has said that
\nthe time has come for Indonesia to consider diplomatic relations
\nwith Israel.<\/p>\n
He said a new stance is more relevant now that several Arab
\ncountries have signed peace accords with the Jewish state.<\/p>\n
\"Following the improved relationship between Israel and Arab
\ncountries, such ties are necessary for the future,\" he told the
\npress over the weekend. Abdurrahman was briefing newsmen on his
\nrecent visits to Israel, the Netherlands and Italy.<\/p>\n
While in the Middle East, Abdurrahman and two other Indonesian
\nscholars also attended the signing of the peace agreement between
\nIsrael and Jordan on Oct. 26 at the invitation of the Israeli
\ngovernment, Antara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Also with him, according to an earlier report, were Djohan
\nEffendy, a senior research specialist with the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs in Jakarta and Habib Chirzin, head of the
\nforeign relations department of Muhammadiyah, an influential
\nMoslem socio-educational organization.<\/p>\n
The Council of Ulemas and other Moslem organizations have
\ncondemned the visit. In February Moslem groups also condemned
\nfour journalists for visiting Israel.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who heads a large organization of traditional
\nulemas (NU), added that in anticipating the future Indonesia
\nshould pay attention to all angles which have not been covered by
\nthe Arab-Israeli peace accords in the interest of its own foreign
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
The need is more pressing because Indonesia now leads the Non-
\nAligned Movement (NAM), he said as quoted by the news agency.<\/p>\n
\"Some members of the Movement already have interests with
\nIsrael,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, Abdurrahman said, has never had any problem with
\nIsrael. \"The absence of diplomatic relations with it has been
\ncaused by the global political situation which included the Arab-
\nIsraeli enmity.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the situation has motivated Indonesia to
\ndefend the Arab countries against Israel thus portraying Jakarta
\nas having problems with the Israelis.<\/p>\n
\"I hope Indonesia will open itself to Israel,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Reaction<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's idea was flatly rejected by Aisyah Amini,
\nchairwoman of the Commission I (for foreign affairs, security and
\ndefense) in the House of Representatives, yesterday, by saying
\nthat \"it is premature.\"<\/p>\n
Aisyah said Abdurrahman's idea is also out of sync with our
\nnational interest. Israel, she told The Jakarta Post, should
\nsolve the Palestinian problem comprehensively first.<\/p>\n
The chairwoman said she had not seen Israel as very sincere in
\nthis case. \"It has handled the crisis half-heartedly,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"What we should do now is to push Israel to grant the
\nPalestinians, whom it has driven away from their homeland, a
\nsovereign state.\"<\/p>\n
According to Aisyah, there is nothing wrong with Israel
\nconcluding peace agreements with its neighbors in an effort to
\nbring peace to the region.<\/p>\n
\"But to think that the Israeli step has solved the whole
\nPalestinian crisis is completely erroneous.\"<\/p>\n
The chairwoman reminded the people here that Indonesian
\nsupport for the Palestinians is based on the preamble of the
\nConstitution which stipulates that every nation has the right for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
\"And the Palestinians still have to fight for theirs,\" Aisyah
\nsaid<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah, the country's largest Moslem
\nreformist movement, has dissociated itself from Habib Chizrin's
\nparticipation in the Israeli visit.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued here on Saturday Muhammadiyah said it
\nhad not been informed about his activities.<\/p>\n
The statement said Muhammadiyah would soon reprimand Habib,
\nwho was once a leader of the organization's youth wing. (tis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-urged-to-consider-relations-with-israel-1447893297",
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