On relations with Israel

On relations with Israel

Please allow me to comment on the article from Gatra picked up
by The Jakarta Post on April 28, 1995, as follows. I do not share
the writer's views at all. Let us take it point by point.

Reading the article first of all gives an impression that the
writer knows something about our government considering
diplomatic relations with Israel. Many of us, of course, are
happy to know that and, as always, there are some who object to
it. However, our government knows best. The people chose their
government representatives and should trust them fully.

The government makes big contributions to global peace. We are
known to be a pursuer of peace and a mediator in conflicts
between countries. Not only in ASEAN but even far away in Europe.

A comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East would be
very difficult, if not impossible to achieve. There would have
been no peace with Egypt, the Palestinians or with Jordan if that
had been a condition. Because every country has different issues.

There are countries that were at war with Israel and now not
only have diplomatic relations but also peace.

Indonesia was never at war with Israel. So it is even easier,
a short step, for Indonesia to establish diplomatic relations.

Whether we do have diplomatic relations with Israel or not, we
have to admit that Israel exists. So we have established de facto
relations. Now, de jure, the world organization, the United
Nations, has Israel as a member, which indirectly means that the
world body, in the name of the countries of the world, recognizes
Israel.

There are of course certain groups that oppose peace with
Israel for their own gain. In every country there are certain
people or groups of people who always create problems
(terrorists, for example) and contradict their leaders. But this
does not make them right.

I strongly believe that Indonesia can benefit economically and
politically from diplomatic relations with Israel because,
although it is indeed a small market from the point of view of
how much they can consume, we should consider how many of our
products Israel could sell to their buyers around the globe.

Tourism would also benefit.

Politically, our government knows better how to handle
politics than us. So let us trust our government and leave it to
our leaders.

We stand to gain, at the least, world peace. And we have
nothing to lose.

When the Gatra writer says that Israel is a poor country, I
cannot help asking myself if that writer has any facts to support
his statement. The writer should, please, visit Israel and he
will change his mind.

Israel has a population of only about five million, 50 percent
of whom are children or elderly people and another 20 percent
civil servants, which leaves 30 percent of the population, or
about 1,500,000 people, to pay taxes. Yet see what Israel has
achieved in the agricultural sector (on desert land), in
infrastructure and in other fields. And this under the tremendous
financial strain of 47 years of war and defense. Imagine what
that money could be used for if there was peace.

I do not believe at all that Indonesia would be isolated from
the international community, as argued by the Gatra writer.

Did any country that made peace with Israel get isolated from
the international community? Not at all. Moreover, we were never
at war with Israel.

Finally, our forefather Abraham is the father of Ismail and of
Israel.

I believe that the common enemy is the one who objects to
peace between Israel and the Moslem world.

EDWARD N.H. ABRAHAM

Jakarta