TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) stated that they will intensify their efforts to support the Palestinian people. The Islamic organization with the most members in Indonesia also prohibits its cadres from establishing relationships with parties related to Israel.

The ban is an organizational policy conveyed by PBNU General Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, or Gus Yahya. “We call on all cadres, especially, and also NU citizens, that we will not engage, not have any relationship with any party related to Israel and Palestine,” Yahya said in a press conference at the PBNU Building, Central Jakarta on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Yahya said this attitude after the news about five NU cadres who met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. According to Yahya, NU will not establish relations with parties related to Israel except with the aim of helping the Palestinian people. “There should be no other purpose,” he said.

According to Yahya, NU cadres still cannot establish relations with Israel-related parties, even if the purpose is to develop activities or scholarship programs. “The only thing allowed is to help the Palestinian people. That is the only thing that is allowed and this must be stated explicitly to all parties who engage,” he said.

Yahya said the current Israeli-Palestinian situation is a consideration that should not be ignored by NU cadres. Until now, Israel continues to carry out attacks on Gaza and has not recognized Palestinian statehood.

“Previously we have stated firmly that we demand an immediate cessation of violence, a ceasefire, and we continue to make efforts,” said Yahya about NU's attitude towards Israel and Palestine.

Yahya said the principles of helping the Palestinian people must be carried out with strategic calculation and planning. “What is clear is the engagement, the results, everything must be clear. So we don't just walk without first planning the targeted achievements,” he said.

The visit of five NU cadres to Israel drew controversy because it was carried out in the midst of the Zionist country's onslaught on Palestine. Their visit was first revealed by an upload sent by Zainul Maarif, a lecturer at the University of Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia, on his Instagram social media account.

In the post, Zainul showed a photo of NU cadres with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The photo on the @zenmaarif account was uploaded with the words 'talking directly with the Israeli president'.

Tempo has attempted to contact Zainul Maarif via messages on his Instagram and Facebook accounts. Zainul has not replied until this news was written.

SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN

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