Tens of thousands of Indonesians held anti-Israel protests Sunday in the capital and several other large cities calling for protection of the holy Al Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds city. Unfurling big banners saying "Save Al Aqsa from raid of the Jewish," about 80,000 people _ mostly conservative Muslims dressed in traditional white garb _ marched peacefully down Jakarta's main streets, some chanting "Israel is the terrorist." A group of extremist Jews in Israel called "Revava" which opposes Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip has threatened to storm the Al Aqsa Mosque in July, when Israeli police and soldiers are to evacuate 9,000 settlers from Gaza. Thousands of Indonesians also protested Sunday in the Central Java capital of Semarang, Lampung, Pekanbaru and Banda Aceh on Sumatra island as well as in South Sulawesi's capital, Makassar. Some protesters in Banda Aceh and Makassar trampled on Israeli flags while waving the Palestinian flag. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, strongly supports the Palestinian struggle and has no diplomatic ties with Israel. Police estimated that more than 100,000 people took part in the protests, organized by the Justice and Prosperity Party.
