Uncared UN Resolution

The question now is how to implement UN resolution.

Israel pursued its military operation in Gaza. Hamas rejected to give up. Humanitarian crisis remains continue. Death toll has risen to 854 and more than 3,650 injured at the third week of the crisis.

President of Indonesia said that if the UN resolution did not stop Israeli attacks and force both sides to agree to a cease-fire, then a clear mechanism should be enforced to assert the resolution.

What clear mechanism is possible to force both side to end the war? UN may need to use multinational forces to guard peace in the region.

Who Can Stop Gaza Disaster?

At the 1st day of ground strike and 9th day of Israel assault to Gaza, 507 people died, among them 107 children and 36 women; and 2450 injured.

So far, UN failed to end the strike.

Demonstrations of millions of people take place everywhere around the world. They condemn Israel and urge immediate end of military operation.

Muslim Scholars led by Seikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi move to ask muslim countries leaders to use all tools to end the strike. Leader of Qatar call the operation as war crime and urge immediate summit of arab leaders.

The area is going to be wider war zone, if the military operation can't be ended. How much more will humanity pay the cost?

Good News on Indonesia's Democracy

Prof. Juan Cole pointed Indonesia's democracy as one of top 10 good news stories of muslim world in 2008.

He said: "Indonesia's transition to democracy that began in 1998 has been 'consolidated' and it has regained its economic health, paying back $43 billion in loans to the International Monetary Fund. Indonesia is the world fourth most populous country and the world's largest Muslim country, comprising something like 16 percent or more of all Muslims. It faces many challenges, as do all young democracies, but when 245 million Muslims have kept democracy going for 10 years, the thesis that Islam is somehow incompatible with democracy is clearly fallacious.".

Yes, Indonesia has been proving during these 10 years the compatibility of Islam with democracy. Indonesian diplomacy either in term of state or people has brought the bright model of muslim world that can uphold mutual and beneficial dialogue between cultures, religions and civilizations. There will be still long road to go, but this is good start to play more important role in international affairs. At least, Indonesia can take leading initiative in spreading democracy to the muslim world. And I think strong democracies in the world should support such efforts.

Feeling of Being Threatened

How do you feel when you are under threat? That is what Israel has felt since 1948. This feeling has been growing fast as the threat widened. Benny Morris described it very well.

Threat comes from Arab-Muslim communities that surround and never welcome Israel; Global opinion that condemns Israel's violation against human right; Hamas that on the ground controls Gaza strip and owns thousands of rockets, Hezbollah with stronger power after Israel attacks of 2006 to the south of Lebanon; Iran with potentially future nuclear weapon in hand and fast growing population of Arab-Israelian entire Israel.

How long can Israel live with feeling of being threatened? Not long, may be...