The issue of the “Palestinians” keeps occupying the minds of Islamic oriented political forces in the country.

On May 26th 2006 it is reported that House of Representatives (DPR) Chairman Agung Laksono says that the House will soon form a parliamentary caucus specifically to discuss the issue of “Palestine”.

The caucus would be a manifestation of the Indonesian people’s sympathy towards Palestine and its people, meaning the Arabs presumably, Agung Laksono said after a meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar. Agung said the DPR had urged the government to provide financial aid to the Palestinian government and to lobby western countries to prevent them from imposing economic sanctions on Palestine.

On the same day Foreign Minister Wirajuda confirmed the intention of Indonesia to assign a special envoy to Palestine, first mooted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. The plan to assign the special envoy showed that Indonesia not only supported the Palestinians morally but also was ready to take concrete steps, Wirajuda said.

Metrotv reported that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also reaffirmed his support for one of the sides in a far-away conflict. In meeting Mahmud Al Zahar at the presidential palace SBY promised to give all aid possible to the Palestinians.

Enthusiastic crowd lines the road as Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar visits the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, 26th May.

Also on May 26th reports came up of “Islamic masses” in Depok, West Java, rallying to the cause of Arab terrorism against Israel. An event, organized by the Uswatul Ummah Foundation and attended by Secretary General of the Indonesian Committee for Palestine Solidarity, clerics Ferry Nur and Ihsan Tanjung, Dr. Idris Abdushomad of the Indonesian Association of Muslim Preachers, and Tazmaluddin Eldad of Muhammadyah, was held as an “action of solidarity and support to the people of Palestine who are now suffering from aid boycott imposed by the United States, Israel, Australia, and almost all European countries.”

Attendees did not appear to question why so many countries, including many who are normally very sympathetic to the “Palestinians”, had suddenly decided to withdraw their support for the nascent state. Instead they yelled “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) repeatedly and denounced Israel and all its calumnies. Supporters of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) made up the bulk of the attendance with many party flags seen to be waved about.

A similar, much larger, rally was held yesterday in Jakarta in support of Arabs in conflict with Israel, specifically to protest the recent Israeli incursions into the Palestinian territories over the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. Over 100,000 activists and supporters of the Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) marched to the US embassy in Jakarta.

Around 500 policemen with water cannons were seen to be protecting the American embassy.

Anti-Israel rally.

Protesters set up, and then “stoned”, a series of wooden pillars, representing the United States and Israel, with wads of tissue paper, an action meant to symbolize a rock-throwing ritual carried out each year by Muslim pilgrims in Mecca, known as the stoning of the devil.

Demonstrators, mostly clad in flowing white gowns, chanted the customary slogans “God is Great” and held banners that said “Save Palestine” and “America is Terrorist.”