No ties with Israel, Gus Dur tells Arab envoys

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid assured Arab nations on Monday that Indonesia would not open diplomatic ties with Israel until Palestinians gained independence in their homeland.

Palestine Ambassador Ribhi Y. Awad told reporters he received assurances from the new President that there would be no immediate change in Indonesia's foreign policy toward Israel.

Awad was among 16 Arab envoys who met with Gus Dur, as the President is popularly known, at the presidential palace.

The other envoys represented Yemen, Kuwait, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Libya and Syria.

Abdurrahman promised Indonesia would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel until the establishment of an independent Palestine state with Jerusalem as its capital, Awad said.

Indonesia also made the return of all Arab territories currently occupied by Israel, including the Golan Heights, and the release of all Palestinian prisoners preconditions to the opening of ties with the Jewish state, he said.

"We from Arab countries are happy and grateful for the reiteration by the Indonesian government of its continuation of the policy of the previous government," the ambassador said.

In the past, Abdurrahman publicly advocated establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, saying that Indonesia had even larger ideological differences with China, with whom it had a strong diplomatic relationship.

Abdurrahman also once traveled to the Jewish state and accepted a seat in the Simon Peres Institute, an organization which aims to promote world peace and harmony.

The President stated on Sunday his new government had no immediate plans to open diplomatic ties with Israel, but he said the two countries could begin exchanging trade missions.

When asked whether economic and trade ties with Israel also were discussed at the meeting, Awad said: "I don't wish to elaborate on the matter. What is clear is that Gus Dur stated Indonesia's unchanged position with regard to ties with Israel."

Indonesia did not follow the lead of most Arab nations and establish diplomatic ties with Israel following a historic 1993 agreement which was seen as paving the way for peace in the Middle East.

Then Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin visited Jakarta in 1993 for talks with president Soeharto, but there was no follow- up to the meeting. Soeharto met Rabin more in his capacity as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement than as Indonesia's head of state.

Indonesia has stated that diplomatic ties with Israel are impossible until the Jewish state complies with all United Nations resolutions on the conflict in the Middle East, including the return of all Arab land held by Israel.

Awad said Arab nations praised the Indonesian government for supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people to win their political rights.

They also hailed Abdurrahman's support for Lebanon's struggle to free its southern territory from occupation by Israel, and Syria's effort to regain the Golan Heights.

He said Islam created a strong bond and sense of brotherhood between Arab nations and Indonesia.

Such solidarity must not simply be stated in sweet words and expressions, but also implemented through cooperation in all fields, including economics, he said.

Awad expressed hope the friendship between Indonesia and Arab nations would continue to grow and flourish under President Abdurrahman. (prb/emb)