Israeli air raids on Gaza that killed more than 300 Palestinians will further hurt relations between the West and Islam, with radical groups using the strikes as a pretext for revenge, a coalition of religious groups warned Tuesday.

The moderate coalition, including the Wahid Institute, the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), the Maarif Institute, Nahdlatul Ulama’s (NU) youth wing Anshor, the Bishop Council of Indonesia (KWI) and the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), condemned both Israel and Hamas for resorting to violence to achieve their respective goals.

“We condemn both Israel and Hamas for using violence. It only breeds more violence. It must never be used for any reason,” ICRP executive director Siti Musdah Mulia said at a press conference.

Wahid Institute executive director Ahmad Suaedy said the Israeli attacks would serve to consolidate radical Islamic groups in Indonesia and abroad, and warned they could use Israel’s strikes as a pretext for revenge, thus leading to an escalation in violence for many years to come.

“The unproportional Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip will anger many Muslims. With the United Sates and the EU refraining from condemning it, the Muslim community will consider those countries in support of the attacks,” he said.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has demanded the UN issue a resolution condemning Israel and forcing it to stop the attacks.

Many observers, however, say the United States would veto such a resolution, because it wanted Hamas, still on its list of terrorist organizations, “destroyed in the attacks”. The Bush administration has dubbed Hamas “thugs” for provoking the offensive by firing rockets into Israel from Gaza.

Both Musdah and Suaedy also criticized U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for not making any statements on the attacks.

“As the U.S. president-elect, Obama can issue a statement condemning the Israeli attacks. He has promised to build a more peaceful and humane world, but his inaction casts doubt over his words,” Suaedy said.

Musdah added the world would not be able to distinguish an Obama presidency from the current Bush one if the former did not take a firm stance against the attacks.

She also warned hard-line Indonesian Islamic groups against sending jihadis (fighters) to Palestine, saying it would only exacerbate the situation.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda also rejected the plan, saying sending aid to Palestinians would be more useful than dispatching fighters to the stricken area.

Several groups in Indonesia said they were recruiting volunteers to help fight Israel in reaction to the air strikes that began on Saturday.

“The idea is to help our brothers who are suffering. But the goodwill has to be adjusted to the situation on the ground,” one group coordinator said.

Muhammadiyah and NU leaders also agreed Tuesday to send humanitarian aid to Palestine, rather than jihadis to fight Israel.

“We should not stay in mourning, but must take concrete action such as sending food, clothes and medical supplies,” Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said after meeting with other Islamic leaders at the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Central Jakarta.

Anti-Israel demonstrations continued in many cities across the country on Tuesday  to condemn the U.S for its protection and support of Israel.

Popular

New Dutch coalition government wants 'strictest' asylum policy

Single-class hospital care scheme will not affect premiums yet, BPJS says

Ukrainians, Russian face death over Bali drug lab: Police