Indonesia facing 'dilemma' over its role in Middle Eastern affairs

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 06/13/2006 2:57 PM

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia is facing something of a dilemma over its role in solving the Middle East conflict. It has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Any initiative to solve the Palestinian issue will require diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, speakers at a seminar here said Monday.

Most of the participants in the seminar on Palestine, organized by the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA), seemed to want Indonesia to have a concrete and direct role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But despite high hopes -- and the occasional grumble from Israel and the U.S. -- Indonesia's position and its limitations are very clear: It has no diplomatic ties with Israel and thus its involvement is limited to working through multilateral groupings such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement.

""We have difficulties in becoming a mediator as small contacts, let alone opening diplomatic ties, with Israel are not possible, because based on the 1945 Constitution, Indonesia still sees Israel as an aggressor and is considering the reaction of the Muslim majority here,"" director general for Asia-Pacific and African affairs at the Foreign Ministry Primo Alui Joelianto told the seminar.

Many seminar participants suggested contact with Israel was an essential prerequisite for successfully mediating the prolonged conflict, as persuading Israel was as important as supporting Palestine in seeking a peaceful solution.

Primo said the government would not risk domestic unrest, which would be highly possible if contact was made with Israel.

""During the UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) meeting here in Jakarta recently, Israel's ambassador in Singapore called us for a talk but after consulting with the Foreign Minister, we rejected the offer because of fear of domestic conflict and considering the Palestinians' feelings,"" he said.

Primo said beside internal problems, many Arab states would also heavily disapprove of Indonesia having ties with Israel.

He said an Egyptian diplomat had told him it did not matter if any Arab countries had ties with Israel because, as they were directly face-to-face with the Jewish state, they needed to be in a relaxed condition instead of always on a war footing.

""But they said that they would definitely reject Indonesia's having contact with Israel,"" Primo said.

Indonesia has kept a cool distance from Israel during more than five years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, although Israel has repeatedly expressed a willingness to improve relations.

What Indonesia could do now was urge Palestinians not to divide themselves and unite in facing Israel as well as obeying any agreement it has previously signed, including the roadmap for peace, Primo said.

Indonesia is also active in convincing donor countries, including the European Union and the U.S., to end their financial embargo on Palestine.

Hamas won a democratic election in January, beating Fatah, which had long been the ruling party in Palestine, and subsequently formed a government.

Western countries, which consider Hamas a terrorist group, cut off financial aid after Hamas refused to recognize Israel or denounce violence and follow the roadmap.

The western countries' move, led by the U.S., plunged the country into financial problems as most of US$1.3 billion budget came from donor countries.

Palestine also faces internal conflict, after Hamas clashed with Fatah over acknowledging Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is from Fatah while Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh comes from Hamas.

Abbas offered a referendum as a solution for the deadlock.

""The referendum will be very dangerous for Palestine because whoever wins could throw the country into deeper conflict. If Fatah wins then Hamas, which won the democratic election, will be isolated, while if Hamas wins, Palestine will in more trouble as Western countries can't accept them,"" said another speaker, Riza Sihbudi of the Indonesian Institute of Science.

He suggested Abbas cancel his plans and start acting as a bridge between Western countries and Hamas.

""He is the only leader that can be accepted by Western countries. He should use his position to unite his people instead of fighting for his own party. He can convince the West to give Hamas a chance,"" Riza said.

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