The Israeli Foreign Ministry launches a website targeted at Indonesians.
The website, entitled “”ISRAEL in Bahasa Indonesia language”, http:\\jakarta.mfa.gov.il/, launched on the 18th of December, is run by the Israeli embassy in Singapore, and includes news, articles, and information on Israeli culture, science, economics, and education, as well as diplomatic and political issues.
Israel Today says israeltoday:
One of the major problems the website will deal with is the fact that for many years the local population has been only informed by media sources hostile to Israel which did not paint an objective and whole picture about the situation in the region.
As of writing the front page of the site does not *seem* to have any content, only navigational links. However clicking these nav. links takes one to sections on “Terror Against Israel”, with old news stories from July 2006 of Hizbullah attacks on Israel, and to sections under the heading, “This is Israel”, with dull articles about geography, tourism, education, and agriculture.
The site has very poor, overly complicated, infrastructure, with sometimes extraordinarily long urls, meaning it will likely have very little “natural” reach.
Jakarta Post quotes Ilan Ben Dov, Israel’s Ambassador to Singapore:
Although we are living in the information age, there is a lack of basic information about Israel in the Muslim world.
Following talks that I have conducted with Indonesians from all walks of life, I have learned that there exists a great thirst for knowledge about Israel and its democratic, pluralistic, vibrant and multicultural society.
Although many Muslim countries in the world have recognised Israel neither Indonesia nor Malaysia have done so, although many non- and pseudo-formal relations do go on.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry secretary general Imron Cotan said there was nothing wrong with Israel setting up the site to put forward the country’s point of view as long as the content did not offend Muslims.
But if they want Indonesia to consider diplomatic relations, then they will have to obey all the UN resolutions for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with internationally recognized borders.
Hi !
Yes, the presentation is minimalist. Same old tune but they talk of the “revisionist” conference about Holocaust intended by Ahmadinejad, and this grotesque “intellectual” manifestation stinks a lot. Here in France we generally do not like “negationists” : too many people have suffered Hitler’s craziness during World War II. I’m hoping that this kind of blatantly distorted (and stalinian) treatment of History will be brilliantly opposed.
israel, if you continue killing innocent people in palestine on a regular basis, then the news will sound the same in any language. murders are murders, whatever the reasoning behind it. murder in self defense has it limits, and not done continuously.
Maybe someday, they wrote, “The innocent people throw stone at us first, to stop ’em, we throw our grenades…”
I wonder they built this site special for Indonesia but ran it abroad.
yes, propaganda…
Hassan, the same goes for palestine dont you think?
Hassan & 1ndra,
It’s the same ol’ story isn’t it – all the misery in this world is caused by Israel.
What you say about Israel is also true for the Palestine. Who kills who? who started? who violated UN resolution? who’s killing civilans? who’s killing the innocents?
I know my answer — I say, both need to stop, period. I don’t link my answer to any religion or belief. Do you?
Hey Hassan,
The same goes to Palestine, you can replace Israel in your statement with Palestine and it goes the same.
I agree with Andrew, they just need to stop, period.
But if they want Indonesia to consider diplomatic relations, then they will have to obey all the UN resolutions for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with internationally recognized borders.
I support you Mr. Imron, Israel have been violating so many UN resolutions, starting with 242/1967, it has been occupying soverign Palestine state. It’s not about religion, it’s politic, democracy, human right issues. It’s not about Muslim vs Jews, and has nothing to do with Hitler tragedy. It’s war crime committed by Israel, and unfortunately, blindly backed by world’s superpower.
Israel and Palestine, both are sons of Abraham. Please, keep on fighting, keep on killing each other, keep on conspiring, keep on your good work to keep the world go round. You guys keep feeding the rest of humanity with many elements that we need such pride, fear, sense of belonging, hate, etc. It was build in in your gen and “great naratives” of your anchestor so why bother with Indonesian (or Malaysian) who are still too busy of finding their own identity. Although the new website is boring (same old propaganda), in my view is a good “looking glass” for other society (who is not the son or daughter of Abraham) wishes of continuing their existance (or dominance).
I hope this is a first step for peace between Israel and Arab countries.
I hope that peace will be on earth as well, and I hope Indonesia will start seeing things without biased towards any certain religion, and I hope that we will start worrying about the future of our contry before any other countries.
Yep Hassan murders are murders, regradless of their race or beliefs n religion, right? So there’s no israel people killed by palestine in your opinion? Andrew and some others made the point, both just need to stop!
Dear Fanglong,
too many people have suffered Hitler’s craziness during World War II. I’m hoping that this kind of blatantly distorted (and stalinian) treatment of History will be brilliantly opposed
It has nothing to do with Israel-Palestine conflict. The WWII tragedy can not be used as justification of the occupation. I condemn Israel for their unjust acts. The peace can be started by full withdraw of Israel from Gaza and West bank, along with their so-called chcek-points. FYI, Israel is the only country in midle east who has nuclear weapon.
I agree with everyone who said that both parties needs to stop. But let’s be honest, who had more power to stop it on the first place?
Let’s put it this way, if Indonesia still occupied east timor now, and there’s continuous bloodshed there, who had more power to stop it? The Indonesian military or the east timorese?
Israel must do what Indonesia had done to Aceh, arrange a serious (not their usual play acting) peace talk. And then give palestine their independence, like we did to east timor. Israel did stole palestinian land, and still occupied it even now. Give something back to them, like a tiny part of the land they used to own.
Now that kind of thing is real action, instead of spreading propagandas about “collateral damage” or “killing in self defense”.
Btw, even if the palestinian stop their attacks on israel, the israelis will never give their land back. Prior to this last intifada, there had been years and years of truce and ceasefire between israel and the palestinian, but did you guys see the palestinian state yet??
andrew: please keep it real, my friend. I never said that “all the misery in this world is caused by Israel.” If some people in this world is doing something unjust, we must call it as it is.
Hassan,
I agree with everyone who said that both parties needs to stop. But let’s be honest, who had more power to stop it on the first place?
Both have the possibility, power and duty to end the problem. And off course those earthen powers standing behind both sides.
Israel must do what Indonesia had done to Aceh, arrange a serious (not their usual play acting) peace talk. And then give palestine their independence, like we did to east timor.
No, to my opinion Israel has to give Palestina back to the Palestinian citizen, and not give them independence. They (Palestinian) are independent, but they are homeless.
Mr. Imron Cotan, isn’t it time you start paying more attention to the victims of the tsunami, the mudslides on Java and all the poor people in general, instead of worrying about foreign policy towards Israel?
Why should the Indonesian people worry about the injustice of Israel against the Palestinians and vice versa? I think that the Indonesian people should be more interested in getting more justice in Indonesia itself.
So, Mr. Imran Cotan get your act together and give the Indonesian people the care they deserve instead of paying attention to matters which are none of your business!
Robert well I slightly agree with you. Why we should worry about the conflic between Israel and Palestine? When there is a peace they start a war among them. Yes, must pay more attention conflicts, disasters, etc., in our country!
Let’s give Indonesia people the care they deserve, as best as we can and within each field of our expertise/capability. But Mr. Cotan is secretary general of foreign minister, it’s his job to do that. It will be strange to me if I hear he says or recommends something about Sidoarjo mud or judicial system here.
Hehe.. happy holidays…
Robert, I’m curious, who’s business are those cases really are? Israel’s and the US’? Well, congrats, it seems that those people had a lot of success on that department in the last, what, 50 years or so? I think that when it comes to genocide, all of us can do our part to stop it! But you seemed to prefer status Quo.
And I agree with longlifelearning, Mr. Imron Cotan said things that was in his capacity to say so, Mr. Cotan IS the secretary general of foreign minister.
May I ask what’s the meaning of the Jewish Lobby?
Is it real or just a nickname or else?
Why don’t you spend some wealth here in Indonesia to build a good image, such as the Tzu Chi Buddhist group from Taiwan who is well respected here? So far the image of Israel are Terrorists, Zionist, Anti Muslim etc. What’s your defence?
Thank you,
SD
Robert Says:
December 27th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Mr. Imron Cotan, isn’t it time you start paying more attention to the victims of the tsunami, the mudslides on Java and all the poor people in general, instead of worrying about foreign policy towards Israel?
Uhm, he’s in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their job is exactly worrying about foreign policy toward Israel. Now if a spokeperson for the Home Affairs was talking about foreign policy toward Israel, you have a point. Otherwise, he is doing his job.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry secretary general Imron Cotan said there was nothing wrong with Israel setting up the site to put forward the country’s point of view as long as the content did not offend Muslims.
Their job is exactly worrying about foreign policy toward Israel.
Actually he is supposed to worry about foreign policy period, but he seems to be more concern that the site is offending Moslems.
More like he was asked a question by the press and as a press officer of the foreign affairs, he answeared it. I wouldn’t be suprised if not asked, he wouldn’t know it exist.
More like he was asked a question by the press and as a press officer of the foreign affairs, he answeared it. I wouldn’t be suprised if not asked, he wouldn’t know it exist.
If this is the case then it further proves that he is ignorant, and if he commented on something that he has no knowledge of then he is not doing his job well at all.
So you admit that he is the right person to comment on this?
Hi Teta,
I think you need to understand what the other person is saying first, then you can comment, I admit that he is an idiot for commenting something that he has no knowledge of, anybody can make comments, but to show that he is more concern about offending Moslems rather than the actual foreign policy proves that he is not acting on his capacity as a Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Robert exact words:
Mr. Imron Cotan, isn’t it time you start paying more attention to the victims of the tsunami, the mudslides on Java and all the poor people in general, instead of worrying about foreign policy towards Israel?
Now, I argued that it was Mr. Contan’s job to worry about foreign policy toward Israel as he is the spokeperson for the Foreign Ministry. His mandate does not cover the victims of the tsunamie, the mudslide on JAva and all the poor people in general.
So you think
His mandate does not cover the victims of the tsunamie, the mudslide on JAva and all the poor people in general.
A MFA mandate covers a far bigger scope than any one can imagine.
1. Image of the country and her people.
2. Protect the country from being attacked both in media and otherwise.
3. Local and foreign policy affecting and benefitting Indonesia.
4. To be able compliment one’s comment is to show how he take the matter and to
what serious extent.
5. The most important thing is that they will need to seek help from foreign
government aiding the needy and disaster victims in Indonesia.
I see unnecessary arguments place on less important matters than it should.
The Israelis are in fact gathering feed backs from pro Islamic faction and anti Israelis. If they are beneficial why can’t we accept. If it is not beneficial, throw them back. Simple as that.
Human being are Human being, israel or not
we can’t blame anything to just one side.
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is such a tired cliche…
Indonesia (MR. IMRON COTAN) why don’t you feed your poor, care for your sick and the elderly, assist those facing injustice in your back yard… then ONLY THEN should we worry about a foreign policy which may/may not include ISRAEL.