Gelora Party Secretary General: Israeli-US Attack on Iran Risks Regional War
Jakarta — The Secretary General of Indonesia’s Gelombang Rakyat (Gelora) Party, Mahfuz Sidik, assessed that military strikes conducted by Israel with American support against Iran have the potential to trigger a regional war in the Middle East.
Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and several Middle Eastern nations hosting US military bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Mahfuz stated in Jakarta on Sunday that the retaliatory strikes carry significant potential to create a regional war by drawing these Gulf nations into the conflict. Israel has major interests in destroying Iran’s military power and government by involving regional countries.
“We hope that nations in the Gulf region can exercise restraint and avoid direct involvement in this war. Regardless of circumstances, the primary beneficiary will be Israel,” he said.
He called on Gulf states to reconsider their cooperation in pursuing regional peace initiatives with Israel.
Several Arab nations have already urged the United States not to use or allow their military installations to be used for attacks against Iran.
Earlier, Israel announced it had conducted preliminary strikes on Iran on Saturday, 28 February local time. The military operation supported by the US clearly demonstrates that Israel has the greatest vested interest in triggering this war.
“Iran is the country with the largest remaining military force in the region and is positioned as the most significant threat to Israel,” said the former Chair of the House of Representatives’ Commission I (2010-2017).
According to him, the target of Zionist Israel’s military operation is realising Greater Israel, referencing statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Iran, which is considered to have nuclear weapons development capability, represents the biggest obstacle to Zionist Israel’s ambitions,” he stated.
Mahfuz stressed that Israeli-US strikes against Iran conducted during the holy month of Ramadan will trigger widespread negative sentiment among Muslims worldwide towards Israel and the US.
“Israel demonstrates a lack of respect for the holy month of Islam,” he said.
He assessed that the strikes will destroy President Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Gaza.
“The strikes will certainly strengthen Palestinian rejection of any peace initiative involving Israel and the US,” he said.
He argued that Israeli-US military operations against Iran contradict the peace initiative from the Board of Peace (BoP) led by President Trump.
Peace proposals and Gaza reconstruction should be accompanied by conflict resolution approaches in the region.
“It is illogical to extinguish fire in one area whilst igniting it in another within the same region. This will only create distrust in the idea of peace,” he said.
The strikes have also intensified negative sentiment among those worldwide who seek peace.
“Rejection actions emerging across the globe against Israeli military aggression in Gaza will be reignited by military strikes against Iran,” he said.
He stated that the world no longer views this as a matter of nuclear weapons or Iran’s support for Palestinian liberation struggles.
“Rather, the world is being shown Zionist Israel’s ambitions and aggression, which treats war as the easiest path to achieving its goals,” Mahfuz said.