LAKSAMANA.Net, January 14, 2005 04:26 PM
Government Denies Allowing Israeli Aid
Laksamana.Net - The Foreign Affairs Ministry has denied reports that Indonesia
allowed the Israeli government to send relief supplies to tsunami victims in Aceh and
North Sumatra.
"The ministry has never allowed air-flight clearance for humanitarian aid from the
Israeli government," Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa was quoted as
saying Friday (14/1/05) by state news agency Antara.
A press release issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry said an EL AL Boeing 747-200
passenger jet flew to Indonesia on January 12. "Landing near the tsunami-affected
areas of Aceh, Sumatra, 75 tons of emergency materials valued at $450,000 were
unloaded," said the release.
The relief reportedly included clothing, food and medical supplies, as well as a water
purification system produced by Israeli manufacturer Netafim.
Israeli Foreign Ministry director general Ron Prosor said: "This is the largest Muslim
country in the world, with which we do not have diplomatic relations. I feel that they
received our aid as it was given, from heart to heart, Jews helping Muslims in time of
distress. The aid will reach thousands of orphans who lost their families in the
disaster."
Reports from Jerusalem said the EL AL plane landed at Batam island's Hang Nadim
Airport and unloaded aid packages with "Aid from Israel" stickers. The plane
reportedly flew without identifying marks and the pilots concealed the aircraft's identity
over the radio.
Natalegawa said Indonesia had "from the outset firmly rejected help from Israel…
because any form of their help has political elements".
Indonesia is a strong proponent of Palestinian statehood and has no diplomatic
relations with Israel.
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