Israel's war on Hamas is political. So it was irrelevant to close the synagogue as a religious place. We must respect any religion. IWAN FIRMAN
Semarang

Enough is enough. After closing down churches, Ahmadiyah mosques and synagogues, what's next? Temples? It is a crime to close down any place of worship. This group took the law into their own hands. In order to prevent this from happening again, the government must be strict and bring those responsible for the demonstration to justice.

It's the government job to educate people and to slowly abolish vigilantism. However, I doubt the government has the courage to do that - that's why I' m not going to vote for SBY. ARIEF KOESNAEDI
Yogyakarta

Since the Israeli strikes against Gaza are not a sectarian conflict but a conflict over territory and sovereignty, we should allow the Jewish community in Surabaya and across the country to have their freedom of worship. MARCUS
Surabaya

It is too much. This is not a religious war. We still need to respect their way of worship like we do other religions. HENDRA PURNAWAN
Jakarta

Closing down a synagogue will not stop the ongoing military operations in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force, initiated more than two weeks ago in response to thousands of rocket attacks on civilian targets in southern Israel over the last few months. To be certain, the small Jewish community in Surabaya has nothing to do with this conflict, except they happen to share the same religion as many of those engaged in the fighting.

By sealing the synagogue, the organizers of the protest have done nothing more than violate the rights of those who worship there, as well as expose themselves as hate-filled demagogues, engaging in a cheap and dangerous attempt to exploit the misery in Gaza for their own questionable political ends. SIMON
Jakarta

Hey, what's wrong with you people? Israel's strike has nothing to do with their religion. What about the freedom to practice religion in this country?
ISAIAH
Jakarta

That's disgusting. How can you hope to end violence by terrorizing a community group in Indonesia? People need to differentiate between Zionists and Jews. JOEL BRYANT
Jakarta

Like in many kinds of conflict, if we continue to counterattack the outcome will be worse. Ask ourselves: Is that really what we want? Why not show more compassion, kindness and patience? HENDRIK
Jakarta

As an East Java resident, I think they are thugs using the name of Islam. The government should defend the synagogue. It has nothing to do with Israel. ONG TJIE LIANG
Jember, East Java

Surely we do not want to imitate people from Israel, who are murdering people with the justification of self-defense. We can show those Israelis that we are a more civilized people. SIDHARTTA

Jakarta

Some people have a problem differentiating the Jews as a race/culture and Israel as a country/political system. When this confusion mixes with blind religious fanaticism, what you get is pathetic action. ANDREW
Jakarta

I agree with the closing down of the Surabaya synagogue. I won't give space to people who ruin others freedom. Now they can feel like the Palestinians when their mosque was destroyed. ASEP
Jakarta

This is a very emotional reaction from brothers who need to study Islamic teachings in depth. The Prophet asked us to respect all places of worship. The Jews in Surabaya aren't Zionists. They may even side with Neturi Karta, a big Jewish group opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Even if they are Zionists, there is no reason for the Muslims in Surabaya to seal the synagogue. IRRA
Jakarta

If you start closing synagogues, then it won't be long until mosques in the US or Europe could also be closed in response to 9/11 and other terrorist attacks. You don't fight terrorism with terrorism. You open this door and you'll realize that it only leads to more suffering and endless idiocy. MARK CASTRO
Jakarta

It is not acceptable! A synagogue is a place of worship. Although Israel is a Jewish state, it doesn't mean that all Jews share the same view as the Israeli government. MEL
Jakarta

I do not agree with what Israel is doing. I do agree it is wrong, but where do people in Indonesia get off blaming everything that happens throughout the world on America? You want to boycott our goods?

I have no problem with that. Why don't you also boycott the millions of dollars you get in aid from my country, or the millions of dollars that Indonesians in the US send back there every year? MATTHEW
Jakarta

They have the right to seal the synagogue instead of annihilating the community as Israel is doing to the Palestinians. RANO
Kalianda, Lampung

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