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