Ties with Israel may cause 'flood of tears'

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)