Susilo should visit Israel too
Susilo should visit Israel too
Emanuel Shahaf, Tel Aviv
The recent report indicating that President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono intends to visit the Palestinian Authority (The Jakarta
Post, July 13) is a welcome sign that Indonesia may consider
assuming an active role in mediating the Middle East conflict. If
indeed that is the case and the planned visit is not only an
expression of sympathy and support for the Palestinians, the
visit should also include a trip to Israel even though there
presently are no diplomatic relations with that country.
In order to overcome that problem, the trip to Israel could be
declared as a private visit. Taking an active interest in the
conflict calls for a dialogue with both sides, not only the
Palestinians. Even if the President plans only to show
Indonesia's support for Palestine and nothing else, he should put
Israel on his itinerary -- to let Israeli leaders know how
Indonesian's feel about the conflict and why RI is still
reluctant to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel's Foreign Minister Shalom just these days publicly
expressed his desire to use the expected positive international
response to Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip to embark
on a diplomatic offensive to establish diplomatic relations with
several Muslim nations, including Indonesia.
A visit by the President would help clarify to what extent
Shalom's hopes are justified. Indonesia as the country with the
world's largest Muslim population and a mainstay of Islamic
moderation, progress and democracy has an obligation to make it's
voice heard loud and clear to both sides. Even less moderate
Muslim elements in Indonesia who oppose relations with Israel
should be able to be proud of a President who will tell Israel,
in no uncertain terms, how Indonesians feel about the conflict.
In these days before the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza-
Strip, the situation is rapidly heating up since Palestinian
militants are implementing their plan to force Israel to withdraw
from it's settlements under fire, a development the Palestinian
Authority is apparently unable or unwilling to prevent. Israel's
Prime Minister Sharon has proven before that he will not hesitate
to use force if the Palestinians continue with their acts of
violence while the disengagement gets underway.
The continued inaction of the international community, the UN
and last, not least, the U.S. to put a halt to the ongoing
violence of both sides leaves room for courageous engagement by
other parties. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would show real
courage by visiting, listening to both sides, express his support
to the Palestinians, voice his criticism to the Israelis and
indicate his willingness to help mediate this festering conflict.
The writer is a retired (Israeli) diplomat who served in South
East Asia from 2000-2003.