RI has interests in opening ties with Israel

RI has interests in opening ties with Israel

Emanuel Shahaf, Tel Aviv

Several weeks ago there was a demonstration in Jakarta: Tens
of thousands of devout Muslims poured into the streets of Jakarta
to demonstrate against Israel and support their Palestinian
brothers opposing a perceived aggression by a handful of Jewish
radicals against the Al-Aqsa mosque on the temple mount in
Jerusalem.

While this was probably, more than anything else, an
impressive display of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) clout
serving mainly internal Indonesian purposes based on a perception
of a threat to Muslim interests in Jerusalem, let's take this
opportunity to look at the status-quo of Indonesian relations
with Israel, if any, and see whether the present situation serves
Indonesia's interests.

As is well known, there are no diplomatic relations between
Indonesia and Israel and the former, since the demise of the
President Abdurrahman Wahid administration in 2001, studiously
avoids taking any steps in that direction insisting that first
and foremost the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
needs to be resolved in a satisfactory manner.

Interestingly enough, the lack of resolution of the conflict,
has not prevented quite a number of Arab nations including Egypt,
Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and some of the Gulf countries from
establishing or re-establishing open relations with Israel,
realizing that a continued lack of exchange of diplomats, ideas
and trade serves neither the interests of their respective
countries nor the interests of the Palestinian people.

It is difficult not to see how strongly in particular Egypt
and Jordan support the Palestinians politically and time and
again involve themselves in negotiations with Israel to help move
the peace process forward and overcome present Israeli reluctance
to compromise by more than the absolute minimum necessary to keep
the Bush administration happy.

No doubt that without the active involvement of Egypt, the
forthcoming Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the first
real indication that Israel is willing to cede territory to the
Palestinians, would be in serious trouble.

None of the recent Arab-Israeli rapprochement, which for the
time being may admittedly be more in form than in substance, has
had any apparent influence on Indonesia. Despite her being a
moderate Muslim nation that according to her own constitution is
supposed to work for world peace stays away from it with all her
might.

Instead of involving herself in an effort that could very well
be beneficial, both to the resolution of the conflict and to the
diplomatic and economical interests of Indonesia, Jakarta will
have none of it, more likely than not because of the ever present
fear of the local Islamic sentiment. While the concern of those
who fear the reaction of Muslim circles in Indonesia to any
thawing of the ties with Israel is not without foundation, it
cannot continue indefinitely to serve as an excuse not to advance
important Indonesian interests.

And what would Indonesian interests be, in this context?
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation in a world
suffering from a serious split between Islam and the West.

With her moderate outlook, Indonesia can and should be an
active promoter of peace between religions and nations, in
particular in a conflict where religion plays a role, as it does
in the Middle East, between Israel and the Palestinians. This
would enable her to profile herself on the international stage
and facilitate her claim to a chair at the table of the UN
Security Council.

Should Indonesia decide to involve herself in peacemaking in
the Middle East at any level, she would have to establish some
kind of open relationship with Israel, not necessarily immediate
full diplomatic relations, but possibly a limited arrangement,
similar to the one she presently has with Taiwan.

In addition to enabling her to become a mediator in the
conflict, the establishment of relations would facilitate the
development of economic ties with Israel which are, at present
undeveloped. Israel as a world leader in agricultural technology,
could make a major contribution to rural development and the
alleviation of poverty in the archipelago.

The argument for the establishment of relations with Israel is
rational and serves both the interests of Indonesia and the
Palestinians -- Israel will be much more likely to listen to
Indonesia if she has something to lose, a huge potential market
for her agricultural know-how. Listen to Nabeel Shaat the
Palestinian foreign minister and his words at the recent Asian-
African Summit -- do get involved.

The writer is a retired (Israeli) diplomat who served in South
East Asia from 2000-2003.