Posted in

Jakarta lawmaker urges ban on Israeli passport holders

Jakarta (ANTARA) – A Jakarta legislator has urged the central government to bar Israeli passport holders from entering Indonesia following attacks that killed three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon.”This should be our response. It would be unworthy for a great nation like Indonesia to remain silent. Even an ant will bite when stepped on — we cannot stay passive after being hurt,” Lukmanul Hakim said in Jakarta on Friday.He also called on President Prabowo Subianto to take firm action over the attack on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base.Hakim said barring Israeli passport holders would reflect Indonesia's sovereignty and its stance against what he described as a grave violation of international law.Israeli artillery struck a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon on March 29, killing three Indonesian personnel: Infantry Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Private First Class Fahrizal Rhomadhon.Five other Indonesian peacekeepers were injured and have been treated at local hospitals.The government is currently arranging the repatriation of the fallen soldiers.Hakim expressed appreciation for the government and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for their response, including posthumous promotions and Rp1.8 billion (around US$106,000) in compensation for the victims' families.”Those measures are appropriate, but as a sovereign nation we must also take a clear and firm stance against Israel,” he said.