Thu, 28 Oct 1999

Ties with Israel may cause 'flood of tears'

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Committee for World Muslim Solidarity (KISDI) warned the government not to open ties with Israel and warned of "a flood of Muslim tears" if it opted to go ahead with its plan to embark in trade relations with the Jewish state.

"Trade and cultural ties are the seeds of diplomatic relations," KISDI chairman Ahmad Sumargono told journalists on Wednesday.

Achmad, who was also a legislator for the Crescent Star Party, said the committee had been flooded with confused queries on the true intent of President Abdurrahman Wahid's statement that Indonesia would open trade ties with Israel.

"The average person can't distinguish the difference between trade relations and diplomatic relations. On the surface it's all the same to them," he said.

President Abdurrahman and Foreign Minister designate Alwi Shihab recently indicated that Indonesia could open trade ties with Israel.

Abdurrahman even said on Saturday that he wanted to return to Israel, noting that Indonesia could learn much from the country.

Abdurrahman is a member of the Simon Peres Institution.

In 1994 Abdurrahman, who also heads the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization, caused an uproar when he visited Israel and attended the signing of the Israeli-Jordan peace agreement.

Upon his return to Indonesia, he called on the government to reconsider its refusal to open diplomatic relations with Israel. His statement however, immediately received strong protests from officials and religious leaders.

Indonesia, in the past, has remained steadfast in its policy of supporting the Palestinian cause and has refused to recognize the existence of the Israeli state.

Ahmad contended that Indonesia would receive no immediate gain from opening economic ties with Israel.

Falling short of making a direct threat of public protests, Ahmad warned that if the calls remain unheeded, Muslims across the country would be weeping. (emf)