LAKSAMANA.Net, January 14, 2005 10:22 AM
Palestine Denies Aid Slight, Israel Donates
Laksamana.Net - Palestine's ambassador to Indonesia has denied complaining to a
senior Muslim official that Islamic and Arab countries were upset about not being
invited to the recent disaster relief summit in Jakarta.
Ambassador Ribhi Awad, who concurrently chairs the Council of Ambassadors of
Arab and Islamic Countries, on Thursday (13/1/05) denied having told Indonesian
Ulemas Council (MUI) general secretary Muhammad Dien Syamsuddin that Islamic
countries felt snubbed that Indonesia had not invited them to last week's summit,
state news agency Antara reported.
After Indonesia received pledges of about $1 billion from the United Nations at the
Jakarta summit, envoys of 17 Arab countries met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla in
Jakarta on Tuesday to make a collective pledge of long-term aid for the tsunami
victims.
The 17 countries are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco,
Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab
Emirates and Yemen.
The Arab countries did not reveal the total amount of their collective assistance, but
Awad said the Kuwaiti government would provide $10 million. He also said the
countries will send approximately 80 volunteers to Aceh to assist with medical relief
and rebuilding work.
"This is not only for one, two or three months, the Arab countries and the Arab
peoples have made a commitment to help over the long-term," he was quoted as
saying by Antara.
Yemeni envoy Ahmed Salim Alwahishi said the countries will help Indonesian to
rebuild hospitals, and supply clean water, medicine and food.
Kalla said Arab countries have also pledged to provide Indonesia with millions of
dollars through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
Ribhi said the ambassadors of Kuwait and Egypt were visiting Banda Aceh's
Baiturahman Mosque, as well as refugee camps, to directly assess the situation in
the devastated province. "The direct visit is needed to see how more help be given,"
he said.
Separately, the International Federation of the Red Cross has reported that
Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries, has donated $100,000 to tsunami
victims.
By comparison, Africa's two richest countries – South Africa and Nigeria – are
reportedly donating $1.4 million and $1 million respectively.
Indonesia Congratulates New Palestinian Leader
The government has welcomed Palestine's first direct presidential election and
congratulated Mahmoud Abbas on his victory as the new president of the Palestinian
National Authority.
"The government of Indonesia welcomes the general election… which was held in a
democratic and relatively peaceful atmosphere. The government of Indonesia takes
this opportunity to congratulate Mahmoud Abbas as the new President of Palestine
and to the people of Palestine for the successful implementation of the historic
election," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement earlier this week.
The statement expressed hope the new Palestinian leadership and administration
"would do their utmost to fulfill the hope and expectation of the Palestinians for a
sovereign and democratic state".
"In this regard, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to enhance bilateral relationship
mutually beneficial for the two countries. In the meantime, Indonesia further believes
that the general election successfully held in Palestine will provide a golden
opportunity for all parties concerned to revive the peace process between Palestine
and Israel within the context of the Middle East region in general."
The statement reiterated Indonesia's "staunch support to the Palestinians for their
legitimate struggle for their own state and homeland based upon the vision of two
states – Palestine and Israel – living side by side within a secure and internationally
recognized borders".
Indonesia also strongly urged for a speedy conclusion of the Middle East peace
process and that the quartet-initiated "road map" be implemented by all parties
concerned in a consistent manner.
Israeli Aid for Indonesia
Following is a news release issued Wednesday by the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Predominantly Indonesia does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel. The
Indonesian media (with the exception of this report) has been remarkably silent on the
issue of the Israeli assistance. Israel was also not invited to the recent disaster relief
summit in Jakarta.
Israeli Aid Arrives in Sri Lanka & Indonesia
12 Jan 2005
An El Al plane flew to Sri Lanka and Indonesia in Southeast Asia, carrying 85 tons of
emergency aid materials donated by Israeli organizations and companies. On the
instruction of Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Israel Foreign Ministry Director-General
Ron Prosor and Deputy Director-General Amos Nadai accompanied the plane.
The plane landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday, January 10, where equipment
for emergency food kitchens donated by the National Council for Voluntarism, Koach
Latet, and the United Kibbutz Movement. The kitchens will provide hot meals for some
4,000 people a day. In addition, these organizations and Magen David Adom
contributed medical equipment to set up a mobile clinic. The five kitchen and nine
medical personnel arrived on separate flights. Another medical delegation specializing
in trauma arrived the same day, funded by the Israeli Health and Foreign Ministries,
which will give a week-long seminar to local professionals.
While in Colombo, Director-General Prosor met with the Prime Minister and Deputy
Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, as well as with other senior officials, and discussed
ways to continue providing aid from Israel. Ron Prosor conveyed a letter from Foreign
Minister Shalom to his counterpart in Sri Lanka, expressing condolences to the
people and government of Sri Lanka on the loss of life in the tsunami disaster. His
hosts expressed thanks and appreciation for the aid, and noted that Israel was one of
the first three countries to send aid to their country. They also expressed interest in
promoting relations between the two states, with emphasis on the economic and
commercial potential.
From Colombo the plane continued to Indonesia, arriving on January 12. Landing near
the tsunami-affected areas of Aceh, Sumatra, 75 tons of emergency materials valued
at $450,000 were unloaded. The cargo included 16 tons of baby food donated by
Remedia and Materna, 30 tons of rice, flour, water, sugar and grains donated by
Koach Latet, as well as the Sugat and Osem Israeli food manufacturers, five tons of
plastic sheeting donated by Hovav Plastica and Haogenplast, and 20 tons of
medicines produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals, donated through the Latet
organization. In addition, donations from Shari Arison Glazer and the Shira Hadasha
congregation in Jerusalem funded a water purification system produced by Israeli
manufacturer Netafim, which itself donated a second system.
A contribution of some $300,000 by from the Sacta-Rashi Foundation, Mark Solomon
and the Friends of Yemin Orde Wingate Youth Village covered the cost of the flight.
This contribution, together with that of Koach Latet, also provided ten communications
networks produced by Gilat Satellite Networks, which donated two additional
networks. El Al provided the plane at minimal cost, and the Defense Ministry and
Maman provided quick, efficient, free service at the airport.
Director-General Ron Prosor was received in Indonesia by senior officials, who
expressed great appreciation for the Israeli aid, the first of its kind. Prosor conveyed a
letter of condolence from Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to his Indonesian
counterpart. They also discussed continued mid- and long-term Israeli aid.
Regarding the aid to Indonesia, Ron Prosor told Ynet: "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."
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