Indonesia: Israeli strikes will only fuel radicalism: Faith groups

Israeli air raids on Gaza that killed more than 300 Palestinians will further hurt relations between the West and Islam, with radical groups using the strikes as a pretext for revenge, a coalition of religious groups warned Tuesday.

The moderate coalition, including the Wahid Institute, the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), the Maarif Institute, Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) youth wing Anshor, the Bishop Council of Indonesia (KWI) and the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), condemned both Israel and Hamas for resorting to violence to achieve their respective goals.

"We condemn both Israel and Hamas for using violence. It only breeds more violence. It must never be used for any reason," ICRP executive director Siti Musdah Mulia said at a press conference.

Wahid Institute executive director Ahmad Suaedy said the Israeli attacks would serve to consolidate radical Islamic groups in Indonesia and abroad, and warned they could use Israel's strikes as a pretext for revenge, thus leading to an escalation in violence for many years to come.

"The unproportional Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip will anger many Muslims. With the United Sates and the EU refraining from condemning it, the Muslim community will consider those countries in support of the attacks," he said.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, has demanded the UN issue a resolution condemning Israel and forcing it to stop the attacks.

Many observers, however, say the United States would veto such a resolution, because it wanted Hamas, still on its list of terrorist organizations, "destroyed in the attacks". The Bush administration has dubbed Hamas "thugs" for provoking the offensive by firing rockets into Israel from Gaza.

Both Musdah and Suaedy also criticized U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for not making any statements on the attacks.

"As the U.S. president-elect, Obama can issue a statement condemning the Israeli attacks. He has promised to build a more peaceful and humane world, but his inaction casts doubt over his words," Suaedy said.

Musdah added the world would not be able to distinguish an Obama presidency from the current Bush one if the former did not take a firm stance against the attacks.

She also warned hard-line Indonesian Islamic groups against sending jihadis (fighters) to Palestine, saying it would only exacerbate the situation.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda also rejected the plan, saying sending aid to Palestinians would be more useful than dispatching fighters to the stricken area.

Several groups in Indonesia said they were recruiting volunteers to help fight Israel in reaction to the air strikes that began on Saturday.

"The idea is to help our brothers who are suffering. But the goodwill has to be adjusted to the situation on the ground," one group coordinator said.

Muhammadiyah and NU leaders also agreed Tuesday to send humanitarian aid to Palestine, rather than jihadis to fight Israel.

"We should not stay in mourning, but must take concrete action such as sending food, clothes and medical supplies," Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said after meeting with other Islamic leaders at the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Central Jakarta.

Anti-Israel demonstrations continued in many cities across the country on Tuesday, including a rally staged by hundreds of members of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, to condemn the United States for its protection and support of Israel.

Source : http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp

Palestine: 25 Palestinians killed in the Israeli invasion

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Sunday morning that as the Israeli army continued to advance into the Gaza Strip and the resistance continued to clash with the invading forces; at least 25 Palestinians have been killed during the invasion, and dozens are wounded. The Israeli army reported that 30 soldiers were wounded, at least one seriously.

At least 485, one third of them children, have been killed and over 2500 injured in the eight days' bombing of Gaza by the Jewish State. The ground invasion in the Gaza Strip was kicked off on Saturday evening. Infantry troops, tanks and armored vehicles invaded the Gaza Strip from several directions under the coverage of artillery shells, naval and air strikes.

Soldiers invaded Gaza City from the east while tanks were stationed at the former Nitzarim settlement and firing shells at hundreds of homes. Several injuries were reported and dozens of homes where shelled.

Resistance fighters clashed with the invading forces in Al Zeitoun and neighborhood and in Al Shujaeyya, and fired dozens of mortar shells at the army; at least thirty soldiers were wounded, two seriously. Israeli tanks advanced towards Beit Hanoun and closed the main road that links the city with Gaza. Soldiers also invaded an area close to the American School in Beit Lahia and fired shells at the surrounded areas.

Sounds of explosions were heard over night and during early morning hours in several parts of the Gaza Strip, especially in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. During night hours, soldiers killed four Palestinians in Beit Hanoun, two in Beit Lahia, three in Al Shujaeyya, and one in Khan Younis, several residents were wounded.

In Rafah, the army killed one Palestinian and wounded several others during clashes with resistance fighters. Furthermore, Israeli sources stated that 30 soldiers were wounded since the army started its ground offensive on Saturday evening.

The Israeli air force shelled at least 45 targets in several parts of the Gaza Strip, including tunnels and warehouses claimed to be used as storages for ammunition. Soldiers, armored vehicles and tanks invaded an area close to Juhr Ad Deek in the central Gaza Strip, shelled home in Jabalia and several areas in Al Mighraqa, several injuries were reported. Troops fired missiles at Al Shouka town, east of Rafah, and wounded at least five residents.

The Gaza Strip did not sleep as Israeli navy boats, tanks, artillery cannons and the Israeli air force shelled different areas including areas across the coast, the border and also shelled a gas station, local radio and TV agencies.

The army also hacked several local radio stations, threatened further shelling and said that the residents should leave their homes. It is worth mentioning that on Saturday evening the army shelled a crowded mosque during evening prayers and killed ten Palestinians, including two children; at least twenty others were wounded. Also on Saturday, the army killed four Palestinians near the Salah Ed Deen Gate in Gaza, while two others were killed after the Israeli air force shelled their vehicle in Khan Younis, at least one resident was wounded.

Hamas reported on Sunday that the Al Qassam Brigades of Hamas, managed to capture an Israeli soldier. Israeli authorities have not confirmed the capture. In related news, Israel announced on Sunday that it will not allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing ground offensive. Israeli security officials said that the Israeli security would decide in the coming days whether to allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip.

Source : http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/

Indonesia: No sympathy for bombers, say Muslim groups

Leading Muslim organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah have called on Muslims to cease glorifying the three executed Bali bombers, branding them terrorists rather than martyrs or holy warriors. Calling Amrozi, his brother Ali Ghufron, alias Mukhlas, and Imam Samudra martyrs will only inspire other Muslims to follow in their un-Islamic steps and give rise to more bombers, the two organizations said Monday. They added that bombings, murders and other violence carried out in the name of religion would not grant the perpetrators martyrdom or a "ticket to heaven".

NU and Muhammadiyah said the bombers' actions destroyed the image of Islam, causing the international community to question whether the religion really fostered peace or violence. "Glorifying the three Bali bombers as mujahid (martyrs) is a grave mistake. It stems from a delusion that such an honor can be achieved only through bombings and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great)," said NU deputy chairman Masdar F. Mas'udi. He said a jihad or holy war to defend Islam must be done by "improving the Muslim community's prosperity, knowledge and morality". After a series of delays, Amrozi, 47, Mukhlas, 48, and Imam, 38, were executed by firing squad shortly after midnight early Sunday for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people. Thousands of supporters packed the bombers' burial processions at their hometowns, with critics slamming the government for allowing public sympathy for the executed terrorists to boil over.

Masdar, an Islamic jurisprudence expert, said the execution of the three convicted terrorists should be seen as an application of qishas (strict Islamic law that suggests a soul be paid with a soul), which the bombers strongly believed in. "Based on the qishas model, they still owe at least 199 souls. And that doesn't include the injuries and the severe damage they caused to Islam and Muslims," Masdar added.

He urged the government and the media to be aware that support for the three terrorists could grow and inspire a new generation of bombers because of the government's execution delays and intensive media coverage. Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin also denounced the misuse of Islam by the Bali bombers to achieve their goals. Achieving goals through violent means is not part of Islamic teaching that promotes blessings and peace for the universe, he stressed. "We reject all violence and terrorism. And a jihad can't be achieved by attacking others, even those considered enemies. We must learn after this that the use of violence and attacks cannot be tolerated in our religion," he said.

Mahfudz Siddiq, a senior legislator from the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said Indonesian Muslims should learn not to allow radicalism and religious violence to fester in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. "The government must be serious in eradicating all sources of radicalism to stop similar incidents from happening," he said.

Source : http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/