RI to send assistance to Palestine

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz announced on Tuesday that Indonesia wil send medical and financial assistance to Palestine in the near future following Israel's latest military onslaught.

He also reiterated Indonesia's commitment to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people through diplomatic action with the nations of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), and the United Nations.

"The Vice President promised that the government would send medical and financial aid to Palestine in the immediate future," President of Ikhwanul Muslimin Indonesia organization Habib Husein Alhabsyi said on Tuesday after a meeting with Hamzah.

But Vice President declined to elaborate on either the total value of assistance, or the timetable for the aid delivery, saying the matter would be discussed further with President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda.

According to Hamzah, the assistance would be delivered by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

Israeli troops have entered Palestinian-controlled territory and taken control of six of the eight major towns in the West Bank in the 12th day of what Israel called its campaign against Palestinian militants on Tuesday.

Dozens of Palestinians were believed to have been killed in the fighting.

The Israeli military offensive against the Palestinians has sparked strong protests in countries throughout the Muslim world including Indonesia, where a number of militant religious groups have begun recruiting young Indonesian volunteers to fight with Palestinians.

But Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Ribhi Y. Awad told Hamzah last week that his country needed humanitarian aid more than physical assistance.

Earlier on Tuesday, chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais urged the government to send food and medicine to Palestine and pressure other Islamic nations to strongly oppose Israel's "barbaric" acts.

"We must send a message to the world that Indonesia is against Israel and completely pro-Palestine," said Amien, who is chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

"Indonesia, as the biggest Muslim country, can persuade all members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to have a solid position regarding the barbaric acts of Israel," he said.

Amien also criticized Arab nations which he said had failed to act decisively to defeat Palestine.

"The Arab countries are so wishy-washy in condemning Israel and this is quite damaging to the interests of Palestine," Amien said at the launch of his personal web site, www.e-amienrais.com here on Tuesday.

He also urged the United States to find a non-military solution to the conflict.

"Israel is afraid of the U.S. and counts too much on what the U.S. government wants, therefore the U.S. government must use its leverage to contribute to the settlement of the conflict," he said.

Amien, who holds a PhD in international relations, also said that the U.S. must take an "even-handed policy" and push Israel to withdraw its troops from Palestinian soil.

"The U.S. government cannot blindly support Israel, and to do otherwise will hurt the Palestinians, since this would merely nurture the conflict," he said.

"There should be common agreement that the military solution is harmful. This will only ignite hatred between the warring parties," he said.

Indonesians were angry at Washington's failure to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, he said.

"We know that Washington is always pro-Israel, but our challenge to Washington is too pitiful for Indonesia. Indonesia cannot afford to stand against the U.S.," he said.

Amien said that, by invading Palestinian territories, Israel had committed "state-sponsored terrorism" and a gross violation of human rights.

"State-sponsored terrorism by Israel is of a much bigger magnitude than the Palestinian fighting, which is not organized and sporadic," he said.

Amien, however, admitted that it was almost impossible for Indonesia to do anything in concrete terms, such as sending young people or military troops to aid the Palestinians.