Gus Dur urged to review membership of Israeli body

JAKARTA (JP): Enigmatic Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid has been advised to review his controversial decision to become a member of the Jerusalem-based Shimon Peres Institute.

The suggestion came over the weekend from Amien Rais, a Moslem scholar who leads the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah, an Islamic socioeducational organization.

Amien, who was in the East Java of Malang, said that Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is known, should consult other Islamic leaders and government officials about his decision.

"If his membership is likely to be beneficial, it's OK. But if the disadvantages are greater, he'd better reconsider his decision," he said, quoted Antara.

Gus Dur, who chairs the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama, has openly accepted the Israeli institute's offer of membership. Calling it an honor, he said he hoped he could use the institute to voice Moslems' interests.

The independent Simon Peres Institute deals with regional and international affairs. Its intention is to foster peace efforts in the Middle East through exchange of ideas.

Gus Dur incurred the wrath of fellow Moslem leaders for lecturing at Tel Aviv University in October 1994 but two months later he convinced senior ulemas it was well intentioned.

Indonesia, the world's largest Moslem country, supports the Palestinian people's cause. It has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Amien, who recently lost his senior post in the Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals Association for his stinging criticism of government policies, said Gus Dur should end this latest controversy.

Gus Dur should discuss the matter with NU leaders, he said.

Amien said it was important to know more about the composition of the institute's membership. Gus Dur should find out if the institute has many non-Jewish members from Moslem countries, he said.

Amien said he believed Israel's political outlook under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not very different from Yitzhak Rabin's.

"Whether under the Labor or Likud party, Israel is the same, especially on the unlawful annexing of Palestine in 1967," he said.

Although the government is wearing a different face, it can not hide its true identity, Amien said. "A skunk is still a skunk even when wearing chicken's feathers." (01)