Religious leaders condemn Israel attack Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 06/01/2010 3:15 PM | Headlines

Religious leaders, including Muslims and Christians, condemned Tuesday Israel's commando deadly attack against Turkish humanitarian vessel bound for Gaza, killing at least nine activists.

Ten religious leaders from Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and Hindu convened a press conference in Muhammadiyah building in Jakarta, demanding the Israeli authority to release some 600 activists taken hostages after six of the humanitarian vessels were raided by Israelis soldiers on the international waters, 15 miles from Gaza coast.

Chairman of the second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsuddin, denounced the attack as immoral brutality, calling for international condemnation and isolation against Israel that had blockaded the Gaza Strip for three years.

"This is a strong violation against human rights when the vessels were sailing through international waters to bring in aid for the people inside the Gaza Strip. This is a terror act and the world must unite to shun this," he said.

Catholic priest Benny Susetyo said the Christian community in Indonesia strongly condemned the storming, calling for the UN Security Council to issue a resolution to denounce the Israeli action.

He also called for international tribunal to immediately investigate the crime and isolation against Israel at the same time because of the repeated human rights violence against the Palestinian people captive inside the Gaza Strip.

Protestant organization of Communion of Churches in Indonesia also denounced the storming, calling for investigation from the UNSC and demanded Israel and Egypt to immediately lift their blockade against the Gaza Strip.

"Israel has violated human rights values and we want them to be investigated for international crimes. We expect the five veto-wielding countries in UNSC to act tough against Israel," he said.

Rusli, representing Indonesian Buddhist Council Organization (Walubi), and Nyoman Udayana Sangging, representing Hindus community of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia, denounced the violence, calling for the Israeli to respect the international humanitarian efforts.