Indonesian foreign minister thanks Israel for support after Bali bombing

The foreign minister of Indonesia has sent a message thanking Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for expressing support for Indonesia after the October terrorist attack on the island of Bali.

The message, which was conveyed by Israel's ambassador in Singapore a week ago, said that Minister Hassan Wirajuda appreciated the letter Shalom had sent him and that Indonesia was determined to step up the struggle against terrorism.

The Indonesian minister also thanked Shalom for the letter his wife, Judy Nir-Mozes Shalom, had sent to the Indonesian minister's wife.

The two foreign ministers met in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in September. After the meeting, Indonesia denied rumors that it intended to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. However, following the meetings between Israel and Indonesia's ambassadors in Singapore about a week ago, it emerged that the two countries are planning to tighten their economic, academic and medical ties.

Indonesia, with a population of 220 million, is the world's largest Muslim state. The signals it has been sending Israel are part of a general trend among Arab and Muslim states to change their attitude toward Israel.