Indonesia to immediately form Middles East peace forum

Jakarta, NU Online
The government of Indonsia would reportedly set up a Middle East Forum to overcome conflicts taking place in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. The forum would not only involve Muslim countries’ officials but also involve influential prominent clerics in their own countries.

The statement above was said by the General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama KH Hasyim Muzadi following his meeting with the Prime Ministr of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Jakarta’s Sangri La Hotel on Thursday (22/2).

Formerly Hasyim had also proposed the prospective ideas to THE President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). As the world Muslim populous country, Indonesia should be able to take reasonable measures in settling constantly conflicts in the Middle East region.

“I met the president (SBY) on last January 27. I asked him as the world Muslim populous country why has Indonesia still kept silent over the conflict,” Hasyim said adding that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Wirajuda had met Islamic countries’ officials and clerics.

According to Hasyim, the conflict between Hamas and Fatah in Palestine could no longer be overcome by the government of Palestine. This, he added should again involve its clerics in handling it.

“The conflict was not absolutely triggered by both sects (Sunni and Shiite). In fact they were provoked by aggressors coming to Iraq to dominate freely the region without missiles,” the leader of Islamic boarding “pesantren” school Al Hikam Malang said.

On February this year, Hasyim was scheduled to meet the leader of Rabithah Alam Islami, a Saudi’s international forum and the Former President of Iran Hasyimi Rafanjani and Syiite prominent cleric Ali At Tazkiri.

While Badawi said the relationship between both Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) would strengthen the ties of Islamic countries and their clerics. (nam)