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Powerful Islamic Groups Lambaste Israel
JAKARTA, Aug 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Hundreds of students belonging to the Indonesian Muslim Student Action group (KAMMI) demonstrated in Jakarta against Israeli violence in Palestine.
The Muhammadiyah, the second largest Islamic group in the country with a support base of 20 million people, joined the criticism against Israel for its violent crackdown on Palestinians.
The KAMMI students urged people around the globe to isolate and criticize the Israelis for their "crimes against the Muslims in Palestine".
The group also brandished strongly worded placards stating that the only way to deal with Israel was to eliminate the Jewish state.
"There should not be any place on earth allocated to Zionism," the orators at the demonstration shouted, adding, "Israel is a rogue nation."
Earlier in the day, the Muhammadiyah, for their part, did not mince words in a strong attack against Israel. It said the Jewish state was too bold and showed great "inhumanity" in its handling of the Palestine crisis.
It condemned Israel for its human rights abuses in the conflict, violating international norms and accusing it of rejected United Nations resolutions with regard to Palestine.
Professor H.M. Dien Syamsuddin, of the Muhammadiyah, severely condemned the "Zionist state" which is responsible for the killing of hundreds of innocent Palestinians, he said.
The Muhammadiyah has strong followings in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
Its deputy leader, Hajriyanto Y Thohari, added that the crisis in Palestine was part of a ploy by the "Zionist state" to strengthen Jewish control of the sacred place of the Prophet (SAW), within the al-Aqha Mosque.
"What the Jews are doing in Palestine goes against human rights and is a strong inhuman action. It is a clear violation of the international promises to the Palestinian people," he said.
The Muhammadiyah also invited Muslims around the world to take steps to counter the Israelis in their policies, adding that the world altogether should react strongly against the violations committed by Israel.
The movement believes that Israel's violation of rights and attacks will, for a long time to come, create serious imbalances in the stability and peace of the Middle East.
The Muhammadiyah called on Muslim nations whom have relations with Israel to break all diplomatic, political or economic relationships they may have with the country.
It also called on the new government in Jakarta not to abandon its firm support towards the struggle of the Palestinian people, urging it to find ways and means to assist the Palestinians in achieving complete liberation of the Occupied Territories.
Din Syamsuddin also said that it was important for the government to reaffirm the commitment of the Indonesian people and Muslims in Indonesia to support the Palestinian struggle.
Indonesia, under former president Abdurrahman Wahid, kept secret relations with Israel, allowing Israeli ministers or businessmen to visit the country and invest in strategic firms in Jakarta.
Wahid, and his former colleague, Alwi Shihab, who was minister of external affairs until two weeks ago, are members of the Yitzak Rabin Peace Foundation.
They were severely criticized by Indonesian Muslims in for their association with the foundation.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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