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.