Thousands in Indonesia protest Israel Gaza actions

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Thousands of Indonesian Muslims rallied
in front of the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Jakarta on
Sunday, condemning Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.

Members of Indonesia’s Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),
chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest), as they carried
banners with pictures of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, a Hamas leader
killed by the Israelis in 2004, and posters saying “Save
Palestine.”

Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction, now
controls the Palestinian government.

Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation and
has no diplomatic relationship with Israel. Many in the country
support the Palestinian cause or are opposed to U.S. policies
in the Middle East, especially the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

After Palestinian gunmen, some from the armed wing of
Hamas, seized an Israeli officer in a cross-border raid a week
ago, Israeli troops and tanks entered the southern part of Gaza
to clamp down on the territory.

The Indonesian protest, which included many women in white
Muslim dress and headscarves accompanied by their children, was
peaceful, but hundreds of police were on hand to maintain
order.

“This is a violation of the sovereign rights of the
Palestinian people,” Titaful Sembiring, the chairman of the
conservative Islamic-oriented PKS, told the protesters.

The PKS is part of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s
majority coalition in parliament and is represented in his
cabinet. The party is known for being able to mobilize large
numbers of peaceful protesters on short notice.