Upset with Israel's aid to Acehnese

Upset with Israel's aid to Acehnese

From Tempo

The Indonesian government has no diplomatic ties with Israel.
So, why should we receive aid from the Israeli government for
victims of the tsunami disaster in Aceh?

Recently, Koran Tempo reported the delivery of medicine, food
and drinking water from Israel to Batam, which was confirmed by
Israeli Ambassador to Singapore Itzhak Shoham. The news was
denied by Indonesia's foreign ministry.

However, Thabrani, an official from the National Coordinating
Board for Disaster and Refugee Handling, did not dispute the
news.

It is strange to me if this aid was really sent here, because
politically, we condemn Israel as an aggressor annexing
Palestinian land. So, there is no need to befriend Israel by any
means.

We indeed need trillions of rupiah to handle post-tsunami Aceh
and North Sumatra, but I think the entire Indonesian population
should be prepared to rebuild the two provinces without Israeli
aid.

ROBIN DANANJAYA
Medan, North Sumatra