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Indonesia needs to play a bigger role in the Middle East: Kalla
In order to play a mediating role in Middle East, Indonesia has to understand both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
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Former vice president Jusuf Kalla attends the funeral of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Aug. 3, 2024, in Qatar. (The Jakarta Post/Handout)
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ll eyes are now on the Middle East, as the assassination of Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, has sparked fear of an escalation of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah, dimming hopes for an end to the 10 months of bloodshed in Gaza. Former vice president Jusuf Kalla, who had just returned from Qatar to attend Haniyeh’s funeral, sat with The Jakarta Post’s Yvette Tanamal to share his views on the conflict and Indonesia’s potential role.
Question: Could you describe the mood of Haniyeh’s funeral and your conversation with Fatah Deputy Chief Mahmoud AlAloul?
Answer: First, I came to pay my respects and to pray for Ismail Haniyeh. During this time, I also had a conversation to follow up on the reconciliation of the factions in Palestine, especially between Hamas and Fatah, after the agreement in Beijing. These efforts must continue because without unity they cannot continue their struggles.
Emotions ran high during the funeral, especially from Iran, Turkey and Hamas; they were all very emotional.
We talked about the efforts to create internal peace in Palestine, for Hamas to join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) so that the struggle will be political rather than armed. There is a commitment to negotiation, but the results remain elusive.
Did you have any concerns that your attendance at Haniyeh's funeral might be perceived as a form of sympathy for a group that the West considers a terrorist organization?
The United States may see them as terrorists because Hamas is fighting Israel. But Hamas sees itself as a fighter for independence. We cannot just follow the US perspective; we must see that these fighters are fighting against the Israeli occupation.
