Susilo should visit Israel too<\/p>\n
Emanuel Shahaf, Tel Aviv<\/p>\n
The recent report indicating that President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono intends to visit the Palestinian Authority (The Jakarta
\nPost, July 13) is a welcome sign that Indonesia may consider
\nassuming an active role in mediating the Middle East conflict. If
\nindeed that is the case and the planned visit is not only an
\nexpression of sympathy and support for the Palestinians, the
\nvisit should also include a trip to Israel even though there
\npresently are no diplomatic relations with that country.<\/p>\n
In order to overcome that problem, the trip to Israel could be
\ndeclared as a private visit. Taking an active interest in the
\nconflict calls for a dialogue with both sides, not only the
\nPalestinians. Even if the President plans only to show
\nIndonesia's support for Palestine and nothing else, he should put
\nIsrael on his itinerary -- to let Israeli leaders know how
\nIndonesian's feel about the conflict and why RI is still
\nreluctant to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.<\/p>\n
Israel's Foreign Minister Shalom just these days publicly
\nexpressed his desire to use the expected positive international
\nresponse to Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip to embark
\non a diplomatic offensive to establish diplomatic relations with
\nseveral Muslim nations, including Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A visit by the President would help clarify to what extent
\nShalom's hopes are justified. Indonesia as the country with the
\nworld's largest Muslim population and a mainstay of Islamic
\nmoderation, progress and democracy has an obligation to make it's
\nvoice heard loud and clear to both sides. Even less moderate
\nMuslim elements in Indonesia who oppose relations with Israel
\nshould be able to be proud of a President who will tell Israel,
\nin no uncertain terms, how Indonesians feel about the conflict.<\/p>\n
In these days before the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza-
\nStrip, the situation is rapidly heating up since Palestinian
\nmilitants are implementing their plan to force Israel to withdraw
\nfrom it's settlements under fire, a development the Palestinian
\nAuthority is apparently unable or unwilling to prevent. Israel's
\nPrime Minister Sharon has proven before that he will not hesitate
\nto use force if the Palestinians continue with their acts of
\nviolence while the disengagement gets underway.<\/p>\n
The continued inaction of the international community, the UN
\nand last, not least, the U.S. to put a halt to the ongoing
\nviolence of both sides leaves room for courageous engagement by
\nother parties. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would show real
\ncourage by visiting, listening to both sides, express his support
\nto the Palestinians, voice his criticism to the Israelis and
\nindicate his willingness to help mediate this festering conflict.<\/p>\n
The writer is a retired (Israeli) diplomat who served in South
\nEast Asia from 2000-2003.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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