NU in Middle East told to help Palestinians

Jakarta, NU Online
The special branch boards of Nahdlatul Ulama (PCINU) in Middle East and African countries such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco have been instructed to help Palestinians, the victims of Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. .

The instruction was issued by the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and signed by general chairman of PBNU KH Hasyim Muzadi and Secretary-General Endang Turmudi here Monday.<>

The PBNU through its International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) would cooperate with NGOs all over the world whose such a great interest in peace in the region, call for solidarity actions and help seek similar viewpoints.

"...taking such measures to help create a conducive climate in the Middle East in dealing with the peace process between Palestine and Isreal and taking measures to provide moral and material assistance for the victims caused by Israel's brutal strikes against Palestine."

Hasyim said, there were some 154 ulema (Muslim scholars) from 64 countries that would be involved in dealing with this case. They are ulema sans frontier of the NU's world forum called as the International Conference of Islamic Scholars.

"Because the ulema from the Arab countries have not possibly understood the real problem facing both Palestine and Israel," the secretary-general of the ICIS said, adding what they knew "is perhaps war and war."

In the meantime, Hasyim said what next should be done was setting up such a special commission of the world's ulema aimed at taking up issues especially on the Palestine-Israel conflict. In this regard, ICIS would lobby some western countries. (rif)