An anti-Israel rally in Gaza City on Aug 25. – Reuters
FORMER vice president Jusuf Kalla has suggested that the government open diplomatic ties with Israel to enable Indonesia to act as a mediator between Israel and Palestine. Kalla’s idea is realistic because Indonesia can never play an honest peace brokering role in the Middle East if it does not recognise Israel.
Unfortunately, domestic audiences here will unlikely accept the suggestion for many reasons, even though they know Kalla is an influential Muslim leader.
