On visit to Israel<\/p>\n
Kamapradipta I.'s letter SBY's proposed side visit to Israel
\n(The Jakarta Post, July 23) in response to my article Susilo
\nshould visit Israel too (July 19, page 6) only emphasizes my
\npoint: The government of Indonesia, as befitting that of a nation
\nrepresenting 235 million \"overwhelmingly nationalistic and
\nsecular\" citizens has a duty to make it's views known directly,
\nface to face, in meetings and diplomatic exchanges, whether based
\non Indonesia's position as a largely Muslim country expressing
\nsupport for Muslims (and Christians) in Palestine, or as a nation
\nadvocating a policy of non-alignment, non-discrimination and the
\nbasic rights of nations as expressed in the Declaration of the
\nNew Asian-African Strategic Partnership. The absence of discourse
\nof any kind has not advanced anybody's position to date.<\/p>\n
As regards Indonesia's past policies, it suffices to point to
\nthe terrible occupation of East Timor which lasted close to 25
\nyears and came to an end after continuous and, finally, forceful
\nengagement by the international community. It was this, in
\nconjunction with the economic crisis of 1998, that resulted in
\npresident Habibie throwing in the towel and initiating
\nwithdrawal.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would do his country and
\nits citizens, and the Palestinians and Israel, a great service by
\nreminding the Israelis, face to face as part of a serious and
\nconsidered diplomatic exchange, about what the prospects are for
\ncountries that attempt to maintain occupations over populations
\nrightfully claiming self-determination in their own lands, be
\nthey Muslims or Christians.<\/p>\n
EMANUEL SHAHAF, Tel Aviv<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-visit-to-israel-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }