What are the recent moves in Indo-Palestine relationship?
In 2017, India voted along with a vast majority of member-states at the UN General Assembly against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Recently in the Palestinian National Authority’s administrative headquarters Indian PM reiterated India’s support for the Palestinian cause.
India also hopes that Palestine soon becomes a sovereign and independent country in a peaceful atmosphere.
Both sides also signed a number of agreements for India-funded projects in the West Bank.
What is the status of Indio-Israel ties?
India, which has been a champion of the Palestinian people’s national aspirations, has built strong ties with Israel in recent years.
This balance is vital for India, for which Israel is a source of defence equipment and agricultural technology.
Israel faces political isolation internationally over its occupation of the Palestinian territories and does not have diplomatic ties with most countries in West Asia.
As reflected in the UNGA vote, international public opinion is overwhelmingly against the occupation, thus and India’s relationship is also vital for Israel.
What does India’s move implies?
India wants to maintain the balance in its relationship with both Palestine and Israel, and strengthen bilateral ties with each separately.
India, which has vital interests in the Gulf and enjoys good ties with the region’s Muslim countries, cannot afford to be seen to be politically closer to Israel at the expense of ties with Palestinians.
In effect, India’s support for the two-state solution remains, but it has now stopped short of the specifics.
