MIDDLE EASTERN LEADERS URGED TO PRESSURE ISRAEL

Jakarta, Jan 9 (ANTARA) - The International Muslim Leaders Forum has urged the leaders and kings of Middle Eastern countries to voice a stern stance against Israel and even stop cooperation with the Jewish state to end Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, a forum member from Indonesia said.
Hidayat Nurwahid, chairman of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) who is a member of the forum, mentioned the forum's call when telling the press about his recent tour of Middle Eastern countries together with a few other Indonesian Muslim leaders. They visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and Turkey from January 3 - 7, 2009.
He said forum had asked the government heads of the Middle-Eastern countries to exert pressure on Israel to stop its brutal military attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Since Israel launched its barbaric military attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip the Palestinian death toll was estimated to exceed 700, and over 3,100 were said to have been wounded.
Nurwahid also said the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were also urged to play a bigger role to halt the Israel-Palestinian conflict and strive to help Palestine gain its independence soon.
He said the International Muslim Leaders Forum was led by
Dr Yusuf Al Qardhawi and consisted further of former Sudanese president Abd Rahman Siwar Adz Dzahab, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's People's Consultative Assembly and secretary general of the World Muslim League Abdullah Umar Nashif, Prof Nashi Farid Washil of Egypt and former Sudanese Religious Affairs Minister Dr Ishom Al Bashir.
Nurwahid who is also vice chairman of the Al Quds International Foundation said the Indonesian Muslim leaders' delegation also met with a number of Palestinian fighters including from Hamas.