The Story Of PBNU's Hard Defense Of Yahya Cholil Staquf's Visit To Israel

Yahya Cholil Staquf's group poses with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Twitter/X @Netanyahu)

JAKARTA - Yahya Cholil Staquf's trip to Israel became a polemic. Instead of just visiting, Katib Aam, the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, also met with the Israeli Prime Minister (PM), Benjamin Netanyahu.

The meeting of the two was condemned by many parties. Yahya is considered to tarnish Indonesia's struggle to support the Palestinian struggle. Yahya is considered a zionist agent. However, PBNU actually strongly defended Yahya's visit to Israel. They considered the agenda to Israel as a lesson to help Palestine.

No one doubts Indonesia's existence in favor of and supports Palestinian independence. The Indonesian government has always been in a position to condemn the modern Israeli-style colonialism. This condition is fully supported by all Indonesian people.

Anyone who supports Israel will be criticized. Take the example of Yahya Cholil Staquf who instead visited Israel from June 10, 2018. Yahya is scheduled to be a speaker at the American Jewish Committee Forum (AJC)Global Forum.

He will also attend a public lecture at The forced Institute. The magic is that Yahya then met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was immortalized in two photos that Netanyahu shared on his social media.

Photos of the two seem to be close friends. Yahya is considered a representative of a large organization in Indonesia who opened up with Israel. As a result, Yahya and his entourage visited criticism and criticism.

Criticism does not only arise from within the country, but abroad. They are busy regretting the attitude of Yahya and NU who are considered to deny the struggle of the Palestinian people. Yahya is considered to have hurt the hearts of Indonesian Muslims.

The harshest criticism emerged from Fadli Zon. The politician from the Gerindra Party considered Yahya a moral defect. Yahya is considered to have humiliated Indonesia in the eyes of the world. Yahya is also considered to have hurt the Palestinian people. Because Yahya's arrival coincided with Israel attacking the Palestinian people.

Yahya's reason for considering the visit as a personal agenda is considered unreasonable. He considers Yahya as a nobody, without NU frills and members of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres).

"In addition to procedural problems, I see the visit of Wantimpres members to Israel also contains moral defects. In the midst of the recent aggressiveness of Israeli attacks on Palestine, it is ironic that there are Indonesian state officials visiting Israel."

The visit clearly shows a very insensitive attitude. In addition, ironically, Staquf's visit can also be judged by the international community as a symbolic justification of the support of Indonesian state officials for Israel's actions so far," said Fadli as quoted on the website.com, June 13, 2018.

Criticism of Yahya continues to emerge. In fact, an organization like the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) regretted Yahya's attitude in visiting Israel. His arrival was considered not to represent the MUI, or Indonesian Muslims.

Yahya may get criticism from here and there. However, PBNU and its wings organizations such as GP Ansor actually defended Yahya. The chairman of GP Ansor, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who incidentally was Yahya's younger brother, considers his brother's agenda as an effort to fight for Palestinian independence.

Yaqut thinks independence cannot be achieved if it does not involve Israel. The same view was also expressed by PBNU. The organization considers Yahya's departure indeed on a personal agenda. PBNU also considers his departure to Israel to carry a noble mission.

A diplomatic mission to expand the support for independence for Palestine. Yahya is considered PBNU to be struggling to stop attacks aimed at Palestine. An ideal that is seen as PBNU's wish.

PBNU also said that what Yahya was fighting for did not conflict with what Indonesia and NU were fighting for. Even though Yahya Cholil Staquf's move is considered to have betrayed Indonesian Muslims, and those who are fighting for Palestine to be independent.

"What I know, Gus Yahya said that one of the perspectives that will be presented in the discussion is that Israel should put Israel's problems in a humanitarian perspective. That there is sovereign right from one of the countries and that has been recognized by the consensus with many countries.

"So I often say that what is a common goal, there are many ways that can be done. Some use face-to-face or frontal methods. But there are also those who go through diplomacy. What Gus Yahya is fighting for is not at all contrary to what Indonesia and NU are fighting for. I see Gus Yahya as a credible, pious scholar, has scientific capacity, his understanding of the understanding of the global constellation," said Secretary General of PBNU, Helmy Faishal Zaini as quoted on the website.com, 15 June 2018.