India committed to expanding ties with Arab world, strong relations with Israel

Ahead of his visit to Palestine and Israel, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday affirmed India’s “unflinching commitment to sustaining and expanding relations” with the Arab world even as it pursues strong relations with the Jewish state.

The President, who will arrive in Palestine on Monday, said, “our bilateral relations with Israel are independent of our relations with Palestine.”

Mukherjee’s three-day visit to Israel beginning Oct 13 is the first by an Indian head of state that comes amidst a growing relationship with that country in defence and other areas and comments that India’s support for the Palestine cause may be getting diluted.

His remarks in an address to the University of Jordan after he was conferred <g data-gr-id="41">a honorary</g> doctorate are seen as an attempt to put an end to such speculation.

“India has an unflinching commitment to sustaining and expanding relations with the Arab world. Our ties are ancient and civilisational. West Asia is a vital part of India’s extended neighbourhood and millions of Indians live and work here......India’s traditional support to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast and unwavering while we pursue strong relations with Israel. Our bilateral relations are independent of our relations with Palestine.

“India supports a negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognised borders,” said the President, who has held various portfolios in the Union Cabinet under United Progressive Alliance (UPA), including that of External Affairs, before his elevation.

The President said India desired to see Palestine living side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Quartet Roadmap and relevant UNSC Resolutions.

“India has played a proactive role in garnering support for this cause in all multilateral fora. We have called upon both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a comprehensive resolution of the issue. We have been happy to provide budgetary, economic and developmental assistance to Palestine,” he <g data-gr-id="43">recalled..</g>

Mukherjee quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s words to say, “Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English and France to the French.” 

He said India stood ready to work with all like-minded nations for the amicable resolution of this protracted conflict.

The President used the occasion to commend Jordan’s active and untiring efforts for peace in the region. Over the years, he said, the relationship between India and Jordan has been enhanced by the excellent understanding between the two governments on regional and global issues and support for each other in multilateral fora including the United Nations.

“Our convergence of views on Palestine, the Middle East Peace Process, Syria, Iraq and the challenges confronting us in this <g data-gr-id="42">regionl</g> today--and our agreement on the need to expedite UNSC reforms reflect our common approach to these important issues,” the President said.