Hassan told to explain meeting with Shalom

Tiarma Siboro and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A reported meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom could spark controversy at home, though there are no indications Indonesia plans to open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

The talks reportedly took place in New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. However, Israeli and Indonesian government officials, including Indonesian State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, would not confirm or deny the meeting.

"I guess the issues discussed at the secret meeting focused on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Nothing more, nothing less," Riza Sihbudi, an expert on the Middle East at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said on Thursday.

"I am not sure the Indonesian government will open diplomatic ties with Israel, unless the latter recognizes an independent Palestine state," he said.

Riza pointed to political deals between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and several Islamic political parties ahead of the second round of the presidential election last September, in which he promised to support an independent Palestinian state and to pursue all peaceful means to settle the Middle East conflict.

A legislator from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Abdillah Toha, urged Hassan to publicly explain his meeting with Shalom.

"Middle East issues are very sensitive for Indonesians. If the meeting contributes to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, that will be good," Abdillah said.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and regularly issues statements in support of the Palestinian cause.

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid raised the possibility of establishing ties with Israel during his administration, but backed down in the face of strong criticism.

Before leaving for New York, Hassan stressed that Jakarta would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Another legislator, Amris Hassan from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said he would ask Hassan if the meeting was planned or if the two foreign ministers ran into each other by accident.

"We are the world's largest Muslim nation. It is quite important for Israel to lobby us with regard to issues in the Middle East.

"Of course, I have not come to the conclusion that the government has begun to change its political stance on the Israel-Palestine issue. But if it has, then the government has violated the Constitution because our country must never have political ties with aggressors," Amris said.

He also warned of possible negative reactions from Islamic countries if Indonesia moved too close to Israel.

However, Riza said it was common in international diplomacy for countries with no diplomatic ties to hold secret meetings.

"Former president Soeharto met twice with former Israeli prime minister the late Yitzak Rabbin. The first time was in Jakarta and the second was in New York. But the two meetings did not result in the opening of diplomatic ties between Israel and Indonesia.

"If Soeharto -- who was an autocratic -- honored the demand of the majority of Muslims in the country (not to open ties with Israel), I believe that President Susilo will do likewise," Riza said.