Israeli envoy meets top legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Israel took the initiative in responding to President Abdurrahman Wahid's desire to open trade ties with the Jewish state by lobbying top legislators here on Wednesday.

Visiting Israeli Ambassador to Singapore David Danieli met separately with People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker Matori Abdul Djalil and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung to discuss the possibility of opening trade ties between the two states. When this idea was first put forward by Abdurrahman it was met with widespread public scorn.

Ambassador Danieli conceded there must be mutual agreement on both sides if official trade relations were to be developed, adding that "there is no timetable about it".

Akbar said there were already informal trade ties between the two countries, but stressed that the government should heed the public's concern.

"We do not object to Indonesian and Israeli businessmen conducting business deals .... But the current political spirit here still rejects government-to-government relations with Israel since we support the Palestine struggle," Akbar said.

Days after he was elected, Abdurrahman announced that he would like to establish trade ties with Israel.

The remark caused such an uproar, even after assurances were given that trade ties would not be a precursor to diplomatic ties, the government put the idea on hold.

Indonesia in the past has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and has refused all official links with Israel.

Matori told journalists that the question of trade ties with Israel was high on the agenda and seemed to indicate his general support for the idea, saying that as a democratic state Indonesia should not discriminate.

However, he proposed the idea be put before the public for discussion before government officials opened trade relations, to avoid any misunderstandings over the controversial policy. (jun)