Israel
has launched a website in Indonesian and Malay in its bid to improve relations with Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Jakarta Post daily reported that the website is hosted by the Israeli embassy in Singapore, and included news articles and information on the Israeli economy, culture and religion.
"Although we are living in the information age, there is a lack of basic information about Israel in the Muslim world," Ilan Ben Dov, Israeli ambassador to Singapore was quoted as saying.
"Following talks that I had with Indonesians from all walks of life, I have learned that there exists a great thirst for knowledge about Israel and its democratic, pluralistic, vibrant and multicultural society," he said.
The site is part of Israel's continuing efforts to engage Muslim nations. Neither Indonesia nor Malaysia has formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
However, interaction between Israel and Indonesia has grown, as evinced by Israel's eventual acceptance of the Indonesian forces in Lebanon
and its sale of unmanned drone planes earlier this fall.
In July, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce also raised eyebrows at the establishment of economic ties with the Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI).
Indonesian Foreign Ministry secretary-general Imron Cotan was quoted as saying that there was nothing wrong with Israel setting up the site to put forward the country's point of view as long as the content did not offend Muslims.
While Indonesia is in favor of the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, the issue of recognizing Israel remains sensitive, and moves to do so would likely be the source of widespread demonstrations, observers say.
Other major Muslim countries like Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, however, have forged diplomatic ties with Israel.
Reprinted with permission of The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute
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