[Kabar-indonesia] Lebanon appreciates Indonesia's support [+Hundreds protest Israeli attacks]

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: Hundreds of Indonesians protest Israeli attacks

Lebanon appreciates Indonesia's support

KUALA LUMPUR (Antara, Aug. 4, 2006): Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh 
said his country appreciated the support and solidarity Indonesians had 
expressed for the people of Lebanon who are suffering due to Israeli military 
attacks.

"The Lebanese government appreciates the solidarity shown by the government 
and the people of Indonesia through moral support and humanitarian aid," said 
Salloukh after meeting with PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Kuala Lumpur 
late Thursday.

Salloukh also said that his country was seeking support from other countries 
to press Israel to immediately agree to a cease-fire to halt the war, which 
had killed hundreds of civilians.

The Indonesian government has sent humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Meanwhile, 
many non-governmental organizations have also raised funds for Lebanon. The 
Indonesian Military is now preparing for peace-keeping troops to be sent to the 
country.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said that Yudhoyono had 
promised that Indonesia was ready to provide any assistance needed to Lebanon 
to ease the people's misery.

Yudhoyono and Salloukh were in Kuala Lumpur to attend an emergency meeting of 
the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference to discuss the Middle 
East problem.

During their bilateral meeting, the leaders expressed readiness to boost ties 
between the two countries.

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Jakarta Post website
August 4, 2006

Hundreds of Indonesians protest Israeli attacks

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Indonesian Muslims on Friday protested Israeli 
attacks on Lebanon. Those taking part in the protest in front of the U.S. Embassy 
on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in CentralJakarta, said they were ready for a 
holy war against Israel.

Carrying anti-Israeli and U.S. banners, the protesters called on the 
Indonesian government to send troops to Lebanon, where nearly 1,000 people, mostly 
civilians, have been killed in Israel's military operations.

Many of protesters were from the Indonesian Muslim Forum (FUI) and other 
organizations. They said they were ready to travel to Lebanon and Palestine as 
holy warriors, MetroTV reported.

On Friday, Protests also occurred in other major Indonesia cities Friday, 
including Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar and Yogyakarta.

Protests against Israel and the U.S. have occurred almost daily in large 
cities in Indonesian since Israel began its military operation early last month.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda stressed that 
America's support for Israel's attacks on Lebanon was making it difficult for Muslim 
countries to counter Islamic radicalization.

Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said Friday that message was conveyed to 
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice by Hassan Wirajuda during talks in 
Malaysia last week.

If America allows Israel to continue "attacking, burning and killing Lebanese 
(people), it makes difficulties for moderate countries which have Muslim 
populations", Percaya quoted the minister as telling Rice during Asian security 
talks in Kuala Lumpur.

"Seeing such situations, even for moderate Muslims, they could become 
radical, they will do anything to stop Israeli attacks," he was quoted by AP as 
saying Friday.

Rice responded that she was aware of the problem and "promised to create a 
sustainable cease-fire" in the Middle East.Indonesia, which has the world's 
largest Muslim population, does not have diplomatic ties with Israel. Washington 
and Jakarta recently restored military contacts as America seeks Asianallies in 
its fight against terrorism.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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