Indonesians demonstrate against plans to establish trade with Israel

Hundreds of Indonesian citizens demonstrated on Friday in the streets of the capital Jakarta in protest and plans proposed by the Indonesian President Abdul Rahman Wahid to establish trade relations with Israel.

News reports said that most of the demonstrators were angered by the report which stressed that there is an intention in Indonesia to establish trade relations with israel, criticized Waheed's rule during the past 15 months when the government was moving from one crisis to another. The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flags and the banners which demand Waheed to cancel any attempt aiming at establishing relations with Israel.

Press news and reports quoted the Israeli minister of trade and industry by the beginning of this week said that Indonesia has refuted a decree banned exports to Israel.

However, Indonesian officials denied what was stated by the press news and reports in quoting the Israeli minister.