REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Yahya Cholil Staquf apologized for the meeting of five NU cadres who met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the midst of the scandal Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip.
“I should apologize to the general public that there were some people from the Nahdlatul Ulama who went to Israel the other day,” said Staquf familiar with Gus Yahya during a press conference at PBNU building in Jakarta, Tuesday.
Gus Yahya confirmed that PBNU understands if there is unrest in the community because the visit is not appropriate given the context of the current atmosphere. He also explained that PBNU has received confirmation from NU related institutions where some of the personnel are organizing.
“These institutions whose personnel leave for Israel have absolutely no knowledge, no institutional mandates and institutional talks. What is done is their personal responsibility and not related to the institution,” said Gus Yahya.
Furthermore, Gus Yahya detailed those who went to Israel were from UNUSIA lecturers (one person), Pagar Nusa (one person), PWNU DKI Jakarta (one person) and Fatayat (one person).
A number of young Nahdliyin intellectuals secretly visited the Israeli occupation state. In the photo received by Republika.co.id, the young intellectuals meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
It is not known exactly when the young Nahdliyin intellectuals visited. According to information obtained by Republika.co.id, they were in Israel last week.
Republika.co.id, on Sunday tried to contact one of the visiting group participants, Gus Syukron Makmun. However, he was reluctant to comment further about his visit to Israel.
Apart from Gus Syukron, a number of other young figures can be seen in the photo, namely Zainul Maarif, Munawir Aziz, Nurul Bahrul Ulum, and Izza Annafisah Dania.
It is known that Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. This kind of visit, according to information, is carried out secretly through intermediaries who can connect this kind of service with the Israeli government directly.