Indonesia has insisted on its right to send troops to a United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, after Israel objected to its involvement.
Jakarta says Israel should not be able to dictate which countries send troops enforce the truce between the Hezbollah guerillas and Israel at the southern Lebanese border.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda says his country has a right to join the UN peace-keeping mission.
“I do not think any member country is given specific veto rights to agree or not agree to the participation of any member country of the UN in the UN peacekeeping force."
Indonesia has said it would contribute up to 1000 troops to any force but Israel objects to the involvement of Muslim nations because they do not recognize the Jewish state.
It says it will be hard to communicate with countries that don't recognize its existence.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh are the only three Muslim countries to have offered front line troops to the United Nations.
The conflict adds to the United Nations troubles, as it is already struggling to attract soldiers from European nations.
|