Ties with Israel may cause 'flood of tears'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Committee for World Muslim
\nSolidarity (KISDI) warned the government not to open ties with
\nIsrael and warned of "a flood of Muslim tears" if it opted to go
\nahead with its plan to embark in trade relations with the Jewish
\nstate.<\/p>\n
"Trade and cultural ties are the seeds of diplomatic
\nrelations," KISDI chairman Ahmad Sumargono told journalists on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Achmad, who was also a legislator for the Crescent Star Party,
\nsaid the committee had been flooded with confused queries on the
\ntrue intent of President Abdurrahman Wahid's statement that
\nIndonesia would open trade ties with Israel.<\/p>\n
"The average person can't distinguish the difference between
\ntrade relations and diplomatic relations. On the surface it's all
\nthe same to them," he said.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman and Foreign Minister designate Alwi
\nShihab recently indicated that Indonesia could open trade ties
\nwith Israel.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman even said on Saturday that he wanted to return to
\nIsrael, noting that Indonesia could learn much from the country.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is a member of the Simon Peres Institution.<\/p>\n
In 1994 Abdurrahman, who also heads the 30-million-strong
\nNahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization, caused an uproar when he
\nvisited Israel and attended the signing of the Israeli-Jordan
\npeace agreement.<\/p>\n
Upon his return to Indonesia, he called on the government to
\nreconsider its refusal to open diplomatic relations with Israel.
\nHis statement however, immediately received strong protests from
\nofficials and religious leaders.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, in the past, has remained steadfast in its policy
\nof supporting the Palestinian cause and has refused to recognize
\nthe existence of the Israeli state.<\/p>\n
Ahmad contended that Indonesia would receive no immediate gain
\nfrom opening economic ties with Israel.<\/p>\n
Falling short of making a direct threat of public protests,
\nAhmad warned that if the calls remain unheeded, Muslims across
\nthe country would be weeping. (emf)<\/p>",
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