Indonesia's house speaker takes part in anti-Israel demonstration

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Akbar Tandjung, suddenly appeared amid thousands of demonstrators in front of the legislative assembly building in Jakarta Friday, reports Indonesian news agency "ANTARA."

"We (in the House) endorse your aspirations. We also feel injustice being perpetrated in the Middle East," he said.

Responding to demonstrators' protest to the presence of an Israeli delegation to the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Jakarta, he said Israel will not attend. "I am sure of it (Israel's absence in the meeting)," he said to the cheer of those present.

According to the source, the demonstration, organized by the Justice Party, was also unique in that some legislators from the party, also joined the rally, giving their full support to the demonstrators.

During the rally, the demonstrators burned an Israeli flag and an effigy of a Jewish rabbi. They were protesting the Israeli troops' atrocities in shooting down Palestinian civilians, including women and children. They also rejected the presence of an Israeli delegation in Jakarta in connection with the IPU meeting.

Besides, the legislators from the Justice Party urged President Abdurrahman Wahid to resign from the Shimon Peres Foundation, which was set up by the former Israeli prime minister.