LAKSAMANA.Net, December 22, 2003 09:05 AM
Wahid Visits Israel, Slams Suicide Bombings
Laksamana.Net - Former president Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid, attending an
interfaith peace conference in Jerusalem, has condemned Palestinian suicide
bombings.
He told the gathering of international Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders on Sunday
(21/12/03) that Palestinians who carry out suicide attacks in the name of Islam have
misinterpreted the Koran.
"All my life I have called on Muslims to... be on good terms with others… It's natural
for us to condemn terrorism and... suicide bombings," he was quoted as saying by
the Associated Press.
Wahid, who ruled Indonesia from October 1999 to July 2001, is a moderate Muslim
leader and a longtime supporter of peace initiatives between Israel and Palestine.
The two-day conference of international political and religious leaders was sponsored
by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP).
Founded in 1999 by Korean-American evangelist Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the
IIFWP has chapters in 154 countries, encouraging world peace by recognizing the
similar values shared by religions.
Moon is the leader of the Unification Church, followers of which are often widely
referred to as "Moonies".
Wahid, who arrived in Israel on Friday, is a member of IIFWP's advisory board. He is
also a member of Israel's Shimon Peres Foundation and the former head of Nahdlatul
Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization.
He has long called for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and
Indonesia, which is home to the world's largest Muslim population and a staunch
supporter of Palestinian statehood.
Wahid's efforts to promote formal bilateral ties often earned him harsh criticism from
right-wing Muslims at home, but he remains adamant that greater understanding
through dialog and diplomatic relations is needed to overcome animosity and violence.
In response to those who criticize his stance on Israel, Wahid acknowledges the
Koran states a good Muslim is the enemy of infidels, but he argues that Christians
and Jews are not infidels because they believe in God.
Despite the absence of official diplomatic links, Israel has long maintained covert ties
with Indonesia. According to some reports, Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, under
the cover of a business office, has been present in Jakarta for years.
Reports say Indonesian officers have been trained in Israel in anti-terrorist methods,
and intelligence agencies of both countries have been exchanging information since
the late 1960s.
Former Mossad agent Victor Ostrovsky has said the Israeli agency is very well
entrenched in Indonesia, with the knowledge and permission of the Indonesian
government.
Some reports imply that Israel in the late 1980s sold 28 US-made Skyhawk fighter
aircraft to Indonesia.
Anti-corruption activist George Aditjondro has written about the Suharto regime's
purchase of Israeli Uzi guns and other weapons through Mossad-linked arms trader
Shaul Eisenberg.
Following the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and Yasser Arafat's
Palestinian Liberation Organization in September 1993, then Israeli leader Yitzhak
Rabin visited Jakarta in October 1993 as the guest of then president Suharto.
That was the last time an Israeli head of state has visited Indonesia, but informal trade
continues between the two nations.
Due to trade barriers, direct bilateral trade between Indonesian and Israel stands at
only about $20 million annually.
Israel is reportedly interested in buying palm oil, coffee, plywood and furniture; while
Indonesia is interested in Israel's telecommunications equipment and other high-tech
products.
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