Jordanian, Indonesian, Palestinian summit in Amman

The Indonesian President Abdul Rahman Wahid said on Wednesday that the trade relations his country is intending to make with Israel are in the interest of the Palestinians.

He indicated in a press conference he held in Amman on Wednesday following his meeting with Arafat and the Jordanian King Abdullah that Jakarta aims behind establishing trade relations with Israel to assert its backing to the PLO, especially as there are Israelis who share identical views with us, especially those who see the fate of Israel is linked to its good relations with its neighbors and with the Islamic states. And for that reason I took part in establishing Shimon Peres center for peace because Peres is different from the former Israeli Prime Minister ( Benjamin Netanyahu).

Wahid continued our aim behind trade relations with Israel is to back the position of the PLO, adding that President Arafat understands this stand. Wahid explained that he made it clear to President Arafat that the trade relations between Indonesia and Israel will proceed towards strengthening the position of the PLO.

On how Indonesia views the status of Jerusalem and its future, Wahid said we see that Jerusalem should be a holy city for Islam, Christianity and Judaism and that these religions can share the city in the form of celebrations or other manifestation.

Meantime, the Palestinian minister of information and culture Yasser Abd Rabbu said that during his meeting with Arafat the Indonesia President stressed his backing to the Palestinian people in order to establish their own independent state on their own national soil. He stressed that the question of Jerusalem is not only of concern to the Palestinians, rather of concern to the Arab and Muslim, and Christian world. Wahid stressed the need of returning back this city to Arab control. The Palestinian minister added that Wahid said relations with the Palestinian government comes first before the relation with other sides including Israel.

Later in the day, Arafat returned back to Ramullah in the West Bank. Before he left Amman he met with King Abdullah II who ( the King ) stressed that actual implementation of the agreement signed between the Israelis and the Palestinians will fundamentally help in reaching the ME peace into awaiting for objectives in achieving just, comprehensive and lasting peace, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Jordanian royal court.