NORTH SULAWESI'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001778 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL, DRL/AWH, DRL/IRF NSC FOR EPHU SURABAYA 05 E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018 TAGS: PHUM KIRF KISL PGOV ID SUBJECT: NORTH SULAWESI'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ANTI-SEMITISM IN INDONESIA REF: A. A) JAKARTA 1572 ¶B. B) JAKARTA 1500 ¶C. C) JAKARTA 1070 Classified By: Surabaya Principal Officer Caryn R. McClelland for reaso ns 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate General Surabaya. ¶2. (C) Summary: Surabaya Principal Officer visited an active synagogue in North Sulawesi, garnering positive press reports. Representatives of the local Jewish community noted the support of local officials and the tolerance of North Sulawesi. In Jakarta, a prominent Jewish lawyer spoke highly of the overall level of tolerance in Indonesian society, but noted that Indonesians do not make distinctions between religon and state politics. End Summary. NORTH SULAWESI 3.(SBU) On September 13, at the invitation of Rabbi Yaakov Baruch, Surabaya Principal Officer visited an active synagogue in the North Sulawesi regency of Minahasa. Currently supporting a community of 300-400 members, the synagogue relocated to its present site from the capital of Manado four years ago following a dispute within the local Jewish Community. Rabbi Baruch's grandfather donated his home to serve as the synagogue. Rabbi Baruch, based primarily in Jakarta, travels regularly to his home province, Bali, and Surabaya to lead services and meet with community members (Ref B). The original synagogue in Manado, while no longer active, remains an historic site. 4.(SBU) The Deputy Regent of Minahasa, police chief, and other local leaders were on hand to welcome the PO during her visit. Rabbi Baruch and his grandfather explained that local officials had been consistent supporters of the Jewish community and the activities of the synagogue in North Sulawesi. Rabbi Baruch added that residents in this overwhelmingly Christian province were very tolerant toward Jewish families in their communities, noting that some groups had held pro-U.S. and pro-Israel rallies immediately after September 11, 2001. He added, however, that most Jewish families in North Sulawesi, who had survived the Japanese occupation and internment during WWII, chose not to advertise their Jewish identity. Most Jewish families in North Sulawesi are of Dutch decent, although one Iraqi Jewish family lives in the province. 5.(SBU) Local press coverage of the PO's visit to the synagogue was universally positive. Local newspaper Komentar, for example, highlighted the "uniqueness and diversity of religions" in Indonesia demonstrated by the PO's visit. The head of the media division for the Indonesian Jewish community told reporters the visit illustrated the "good security situation and peacefulness of North Sulawesi." TOLERANT SOCIETY 6.(C) In a separate conversation with Embassy, poloff met with David Abraham on September 16 -- a prominent Indonesian Jewish lawyer currently practicing in Jakarta -- to discuss issues of anti-Semitism in Indonesia. Abraham spoke highly of the overall level of tolerance in Indonesian society. He noted, to the best of his knowledge, there were no acts of physical violence against or harassment of Jewish persons in Indonesia. He added there has never been an act of violence against or vandalism of Jewish community institutions, synagogues, or cemeteries in Indonesia. 7.(C) Abraham told poloff many Indonesians, privately, do not separate religion and state politics. Most Indonesians are unable to make distinctions between Israeli policies and Jewish religious identity. Indonesian attitudes on Jews are based on events in the Israel/Palestinian conflict reported through political cartoons and media, which heavily favor the Palestinian side of the conflict. That said, Abraham believes tolerance does exist in Indonesian society and he has never shied away from identifying himself as an Indonesian Jew. 8.(C) Abraham is currently part of the defense team of lawyers defending Islamic fundamentalist, Munarman. Munarman JAKARTA 00001778 002 OF 002 is a leader in the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Islam Troop Command (KLI) -- hardline groups that attacked a peaceful rally promoting pluralism on June 1 (See Refl C). Munarman is on trial for inciting violence, physical assault, destruction of private property. Abraham told poloff he is always upfront about his Jewish background to his friends and clients and many of his friends are members of hardline groups. HUME