Gus Dur wonders why so much fuss over Israel visit<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem organization, Abdurrahman
\nWahid, stressed here yesterday that there is no reason to prevent
\nhim from visiting Israel.<\/p>\n
He expressed confusion as to why certain parties in Indonesia
\ndeplored his recent visit to that country.<\/p>\n
His visit late last month together with two other Moslem
\nscholars, Djohan Effendy and Habib Chirzin, incited both
\ncriticism and praise from various parties.<\/p>\n
"I don't know why they deplored this. I went to Israel just to
\nattend a seminar and not a single person has the right to stop
\nsomeone from attending a seminar," he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that his visit had nothing to do with politics.
\n"I just fulfilled an invitation to take part in a seminar in that
\ncountry," he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the seminar discussed how the Moslems and Jews
\nresponded to contemporary challenges against modernization and to
\nthe search for self-identification and community lives.<\/p>\n
The application of religious teachings, especially ties
\nbetween religions and states, was also discussed, he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur denied reports saying that he proposed the opening of
\ndiplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel. "I just said
\nthat we are now beginning to think about anticipating possible
\ndiplomatic ties between the two countries. So the possibility
\nwill emerge by itself," he said.<\/p>\n
"I just say why don't we try to think about it now. How to
\nmake it smooth," he said, adding that the betterment of relations
\nbetween Arab countries and Israel is just a matter of time.<\/p>\n
"If Yasser Arafat has signed an agreement with Yitzhak Rabin,
\nKing Hussein of Jordan has also done the same thing and others
\nwill likely follow suit, what will we do now?" he asked.<\/p>\n
If those related parties have said that they have stopped
\nwarring with Israel, it is no longer practical for us in
\nIndonesia to talk about Israel again and again, he said.<\/p>\n
Therefore it is already time for Indonesia to think about how
\nto anticipate the possibility of diplomatic ties with Israel, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Re-election<\/p>\n
Gus Dur was quoted by the Kompas daily as saying on Monday
\nthat he is ready to be re-elected to the leadership of the NU
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur told reporters on Monday that he is ready to keep the
\nNU chairmanship as long as a NU provincial branch nominates him.<\/p>\n
The new chairman of NU will be elected during the
\norganization's next congress, which will be held in the West Java
\ntown of Tasikmalaya in December. The congress will also elect new
\nmembers of its executive board.<\/p>\n
Mathori Abdul Jalil, the former secretary-general of the
\nUnited Development Party, said yesterday in Semarang that Gus
\nDur's recent visit to Israel will not affect his chances of
\nkeeping the chairmanship of NU.<\/p>\n
"Gus Dur would do nothing, neither by statements nor actions,
\nto harm this country or NU. His visit was based on Indonesia's
\nforeign policy of a free and active stance," Mathori was quoted
\nby Antara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
Mathori also said that the visit should not be interpreted as
\nGus Dur's move to enter the national political arena, but should
\nbe seen as his effort to maintain the orderliness in the world,
\nan idea which is also stipulated in the 1945 Constitution.
\n(har\/mas\/hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-wonders-why-so-much-fuss-over-israel-visit-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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