INDONESIA CALLS FOR GLOBAL EFFORTS TO STOP ISRAELI AGGRESSION IN GAZA by Fardah

   Jakarta, July 20, 2014 (Antara) - A young female Israeli legislator Ayelet Shaked of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, has called for the slaughter of Palestinian mothers who give birth to, what she called as, "little snakes."
   "They are all our enemies and their blood should be on our hands. This also applies to the mothers of the dead terrorists," she said, adding that  "They should follow their sons, nothing would be more just. They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes. Otherwise, more little snakes will be raised there."
    Reacting to Shaked's remarks, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israeli's policy in Gaza is no different than Hitler's mentality.

        "An Israeli woman said Palestinian mothers should be killed, too. And she's a member of the Israeli parliament. What is the difference between this mentality and Hitler's?" Erdogan asked.

        In Indonesia, the public as well as the government have strongly condemned the Israeli military aggression that has killed some 320 Palestinians and injured 2,260 others, mostly civilians that included children and women, in Gaza, Palestine.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on July 14 called for global efforts to stop the Israeli attacks on Palestine and to end the ongoing conflict.   
   President Yudhoyono explained that Indonesia continued to communicate with the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIC, the UN Secretary-General, and the US president, to end the Israeli aggression.

         "I will convey that this (the Palestinian issue) has deeply hurt the feelings of Muslims, especially the violence occurring during Ramadhan," he noted.

         Yudhoyono said he had a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who is now chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.

         "We had a long discussion with him. We had agreed that not only Iran, Indonesia, Islamic countries, Non-Aligned countries, and Gulf countries, but also the rest of the world are responsible for putting an end to the military strikes in Gaza in particular, and other Israeli military actions and violence in general," said Yudhoyono, who promised to call UN Secretary Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack Obama concerning the killings in Gaza.

          He later said that there are four basic diplomatic principles in ending the violence in Palestine, particularly Gaza: First, putting a stop to the Israeli military action; second, imposing a ceasefire under the aegis of the UN; third, preventing retaliatory attacks from both sides; and fourth, extending immediate humanitarian aid to Palestinian victims.

        Indonesia condemned the Israeli military attacks, which are not proportional, he said.  "They are not only violating human rights but also international laws," stated the president who earlier pledged donation worth US$1 million to help the Gazans.

         "This problem should not be tackled only by Arab countries, because this problem is the world's problem and our common problem. It really hurts Muslims all over the world," President Yudhoyono stated.

          Meanwhile, Rector of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Pratikno said recently that the Israeli invasion against Palestinian violated the human rights principles.

         According to him, Indonesia can exert its influence through  diplomatic channels on other countries in the ASEAN region to seek for an end to the human tragedy in Palestine.

         "The next president, who is elected by the people, must seek for an end to the human tragedy in Palestine," he affirmed.

          Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi expressed gratitude to the Indonesian people for their support to his country, which has so far been oppressed by Israel.

          "Thanks for all the support that the Indonesian people have provided," he said after attending the inauguration of Dino Patti Djalal as the vice minister of foreign affairs, in Jakarta, on July 14, 2014.

          He said currently thousands of children are suffering, while many others had to be evacuated to Egypt to obtain adequate medical treatment.  "We need UN's action," he added.

         As a staunch supporter of Palestinians in their struggle for independence, Indonesia has been prompt in demonstrating its moral and financial support for Gaza residents, who are currently facing incessant air and ground strikes launched by Israel.

          Numerous street rallies against Israeli military attacks were organized in several Indonesian cities and condemnations were voiced by the Indonesian government and public.

         Donations have been collected from the public by various parties including students, NGOs, and bureaucrats such as in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

         The Samarinda municipality administration has sent letters to all officials and civil servants in the city to donate cash for the Palestinians, Zulfakar, the secretary of Samarinda Municipality stated here on July 17.

         The funds will be presented to the National Committee for Palestinian People in East Kalimantan, he added.

         In Indonesia's western-most province of Aceh, Syiah Kuala state university (Unsyiah) on July 19 organized a music concert and fund-raising campaign for Palestinians.

        Previously, on July 13, hundreds of people in Banda Aceh had held a rally to condemn the Israeli military aggression in Gaza and raised funds for the Gazans.

         Chairman of the National Committee for the Palestinian People (KNRP), Tgk Mahyaruddin Yusuf, on the occasion said that the Zionist military has committed heinous crime by trying to burn down the land and the Muslims of Palestine.

         "Today, the people of Aceh assert that we are together in spirit with the Palestinians. Palestine is not alone. We, as part of Indonesia, are ready to do anything to help liberate Palestinians from Israeli occupation," he stated.***1***
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