Indonesia postpones trade ties with Israel

Indonesia finally postponed its plan to open trade relations with Israel, pending the appropriate time, Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab was quoted by the indonesian news agency ANTARA as saying here on Thursday. "The plan to open trade ties with Israel is only an appeal, instead of a government policy," he told newsmen after he attended a working meeting between President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and the House of Representatives (DPR).

The government's plan to establish trade relations with Israel has sparked controversies and demonstrations were staged by groups of students and youths in the country who were strongly against the move.

Shihab said that the government will consult the House prior to opening trade relations with Israel and that the government was determined not to open diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv as long as Palestine has not yet gained its independence.