Various Islamic groups have begun recruiting volunteers for jihad against Israel. Government and police say that to help Lebanon it would be better to send food and medicines.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesia has no way to prevent Muslim militants from travelling to the Middle East to wage war against Israel, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said. "We are a country with a system in which people are extremely free to travel overseas and no exit permit is required," Mr Wirajuda added.

Suaib Didu, from the Muslim Youth Movement, last week said that more than 200 militants had been sent on missions to attack Israel's interests and countries that support the Jewish state.

Several other hard-line Muslim groups have opened recruitment for volunteers on a jihad for Lebanon.

They include the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), which is led by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who was convicted of conspiring in the 2002 Bali bombings—the MMI opened recruitment posts two days ago in Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

A spokesman for the group said 500 volunteers were ready to be dispatched to Lebanon and Palestinian territory.

Police seemed more willing to prevent militants from leaving for Lebanon. "We will stop them if they want to go to war," said National Police spokesman Brig Gen Anton Bachrul Alam said, adding that their "departure for the Middle East would be a violation of our state Constitution, which says that Indonesia should pro-actively contribute to world peace."

"Showing solidarity for the Lebanese," he explained, "doesn't mean that we have to hold up weapons and join in the war. We can help the Lebanese people by supporting their basic needs, such as for food and drugs."

In the past Indonesian militant groups said they sent volunteers on jihad. MMI leader Irvan S. Awwas said in Yogyakarta that before departing for Lebanon, volunteers would undergo mental and physical training.

He admitted however that the volunteers faced financial constraints in travelling abroad, with each needing about Rp 15 million (US$ 1,648) to go on jihad.

The Islam Defenders Front also opened a recruitment post in Central Java, claiming it had 30 volunteers willing to go to Lebanon.

But FM Wirajuda said sending volunteers to fight Israel would be a "reckless" move.

The Indonesian government has several times called for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East and an expanded United Nations presence in Lebanon.

• indonesia
• middle
• east
• lebanon
• israel
• volunteers
• islamic
• militants
• jihad