Southeast Asian countries urge for immediate Israel-Palestine truce

Southeast Asian regions urge for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Palestine despite diverse views on root causes, as some members sharply criticize Israeli excessive attacks and the US blind support.

The Israel-Palestine conflict has exposed divergent viewpoints within the region, as individual countries take opposing sides on the issue, guided by their respective interests and affiliations, analysts said.

As members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Southeast Asian leaders have signed a statement that condemned all attacks against civilians, called for humanitarian aid and urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realizing the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.

But while they have found common ground in the pursuit of peace and protection of civilians, ASEAN member countries have contrasting views on the root of the conflict.

Herman Joseph Kraft, professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said that while the intensifying Middle East crisis may not directly hurt ASEAN solidarity as a regional grouping, the issue has exposed contrasting views among individual member countries.

Muslim-majority countries like Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia "might have popular opinion supportive of the Palestinians," Kraft told China Daily. But he said Hamas' actions and the Israeli responses have "once again raised concerns over a need to strengthen security against extremist activities in support of the plight of the Palestinians".

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged "continued solidarity and unwavering support for Palestine" in an Oct 27 media interview. Indonesia said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is the "root of the conflict".

Indonesia has also co-sponsored a United Nations resolution calling for "an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities" between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. The General Assembly adopted the resolution on Oct 27.

The Philippines has abstained from voting for the non-binding UN resolution. Antonio Lagdameo, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, said Manila acknowledges the right of Israel to self-defense.

Shortly after Hamas' surprise attack against Israel, Singapore issued a statement that "strongly condemns the rocket and terror attacks from Gaza on Israel". Thailand has offered its "deepest condolences" to Israel owing to the "unfortunate loss of lives and injuries from this inhumane and indiscriminate act".

Vietnam said it is "deeply concerned" over the escalating violence between Hamas and Israel.

As the Middle East crisis intensifies, Israeli launch of ground operations in Gaza over the weekend may also further divide the regional bloc, according to Awang Azman Awang Pawi, associate professor in the Academy of Malay Studies at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

"The conflict can lead to divisions among ASEAN members with some countries taking sides based on their geopolitical alliances and (national) interests," Awang Azman told China Daily.

Despite the wide geographical distance between the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict has reverberated across ASEAN owing to the close historical, political and economic ties between the two regions. Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia support Palestine and have no diplomatic ties with Israel.

The Philippines voted in favor of UN Resolution 181 in 1947, which partitioned Palestine into two states: one Arab and one Jewish. Israel is also home to thousands of Filipino and Thai migrants.

Vietnam has a free trade agreement with Israel, while Singapore has invested nearly S$3 billion in the Jewish state.

Bilveer Singh, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said while ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are "largely sympathetic to the Palestinians", the regional bloc has "to play a balancing act" amid the geopolitical tension.

Singh said the West, especially the US "are condoning and assisting the Israeli aggression," adding that the Palestinians are defending their "legal, historical and legitimate homeland".

"Israel's future in ASEAN is over and the US and West (influence) will be greatly weakened in the region," Singh told China Daily.

Awang Azman of the University of Malaya said that since major global powers are involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict, these countries' "influence and interventions in the Middle East can indirectly affect Southeast Asia". He said external forces may challenge ASEAN's centrality.