Indonesia rejects Israel's latest call for bilateral relations 

thejakartapost.com 

 Posted: Thu, March 31 2016 | 09:11 pm 

Indonesia will stand firm in its support of an independent Palestine and will not respond to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu most recent call for official bilateral relations, an official said on Thursday.
"We want to assert that Indonesia's support and efforts to push for the independence of Palestine will not change," Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.
He also expressed disappointment that several senior Indonesian journalists had recently visited Israel, after being invited by Netanyahu, who said that he wanted to change public opinion about Israel.
During the meeting, the prime minister expressed his hopes that Indonesia and Israel would initiate official relations, saying that both countries had many opportunities to cooperate.
The ministry was aware that the Middle Eastern country had conducted similar activities in the past to promote its tourist and business sectors.
"We regret that such activities are politicized by Israel," he said.
Tantowi Yahya, a lawmaker from the House of Representatives commission I overseeing foreign and security affairs, said Indonesia's support of Palestine was in accordance with the Constitution, which asserts that independence is the natural right of every nation. (liz/rin)


 LETTERS OF OPINION

    Dear Editor,
    I was intersested to read “ Indonesia Rejects Israel’s Latest Call for Bilateral Relations” (letters 31/3/2016). I am concerned about some senior journalists that visisted Israel.
    I am agree with Indonesia that rejecting  Israel’s call for bilateral relation. However , I can’t approve the purpose why some senior journalists from Indonesia come to Israel just because invitations from Prime Minister of Israel.
    I think that what they do is not supporting Indonesia’s step to not make an bilateral relations with Israel. In addition, it’s like give Israel a chance to feel more closer with us and that invitations maybe just their strategy to get Indonesia’s attention. So, we will in their side and help them to destroy Palestina.
    My suggestion is that I think goverment should give a policy that banned all Indonesian come and support Israel, because their ideology is different from Indonesia and it’s dangerous for us.


   Dewi Endah A

    Yogyakarta