INDIA
- PALESTINE RELATIONS – INTERNATIONAL
News:
View From India | What is
India’s Palestine position?
What's
in the news?
●
Israel’s air strikes and shelling have
already killed some 4,500 Palestinians, roughly half of them children, and
injured many more thousands.
●
At the UN Security Council, Brazil put
together a mildly worded resolution calling for a humanitarian pause to the
bombing.
●
But it was vetoed by the U.S. China’s
President Xi Jinping has promised to work with Egypt to “stabilise” West Asia.
Russia has called for a solution to the Palestinian problem for peace in the
region.
Key
takeaways:
●
India always advocated the resumption of
direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable
state of Palestine, living within secure and recognised borders, side by side
at peace with Israel.
Evolution
of the relations:
Indian
and Palestine Relations:
●
Indian and Palestine relations are old and
time tested. India’s development assistance for Palestine has been consistent
and has grown over the years.
●
India
has always supported the cause of Palestine and since 1988 India has recognized
Palestine. India is engaged in the nation building
efforts of Palestine in several sectors like IT,Education, Rural development
and capacity building.
●
India is providing aid and financial assistance to Palestine.
●
Recently at the UNGA resolution, India
voted against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital.
Bilateral
Trade:
●
Trade between India and Palestine is
conducted through Israel and therefore, comprehensive trade statistics are not
available.
●
Limited data suggests that India-Palestine
annual bilateral trade is worth about US$ 40 million
●
Indian
exports include marble, granite and other stones, Basmati
Rice, raw material for making vaccines, coffee, cashew nuts, sugar, sweet
biscuits, sacks and bags for the packing of goods, etc.
●
Palestinian
exports are mainly virgin olive oil and its fractions, dates,
etc.
●
In terms of sectors automotive spare
parts, medical tourism, agro-products, textiles, fabrics, readymade garments,
household appliances, stationery products, leather and leather products,
agrochemicals, plastic products, pharmaceuticals and engineering goods could be
the target sectors for Indian manufacturers and exporters.
Culture
& People to People relations:
●
Indian arts and culture, especially Indian
movies are very popular in Palestine.
●
Several cultural activities, including
film shows and photo exhibitions have been organized by the Representative
Office of India in various Palestinian cities in addition to screening of
documentaries prepared by Public Diplomacy division, MEA in local TV channels,
schools and youth clubs.
●
The first Indian restaurant in Ramallah
was opened in January 2018.
●
India-Palestine
Youth Exchange Programme was started in 2017.
The
Palestine-India Techno Park:
●
The park will be located next to the
Birzeit University Academic Campus.
●
The Representative of India to Palestine,
Sunil Kumar, released third tranche of funding, worth $3 million, for the construction of a Palestine-India Techno
Park.
●
In total, India has made a commitment of investing over $12 million, part of
India’s broader framework of capacity building in Palestine. The Indian
government pays $3 million on a half- yearly basis.
●
The Techno Park is meant to create a national business environment and
culture “that will enable knowledge-based and creative enterprises as well
as technology clusters to successfully operate locally, regionally and
globally”.
●
Its objectives include establishing an environment that is
accessible to industry, supporting the process of commercialization and
industrialization, supporting entrepreneurship and bridging the knowledge gap
between the private sector and academia.
●
India’s investment towards the park is
part of India’s support to the Palestinian cause.
●
Once completed, the Technopark will serve
as an IT hub in Palestine with complete IT facilities offering a one-stop
solution to all IT-related service requirements, providing state of-the-art
technology, hosting IT companies and foreign companies benefitting local
business, Universities and other institutions.
IBSA
Cooperation:
●
India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Fund
has also financed five projects in Palestine, namely Indoor Multipurpose Sports
Complex in Ramallah, Phase I and Phase II of Setting Up of Cardiothoracic Unit
of Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s Al Quds hospital in Gaza, Atta Habib
Medical Center in Gaza and Rehabilitation Centre for People with Mental
Disabilities in Nablus.
India’s
Position on Palestine:
●
India’s position on Palestine is
independent and consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests, and not
determined by any third country.
●
Along with political support, India has
been contributing material and technical assistance to the Palestinian people.
●
In 2016 India pledged a USD 1.25 million
to the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees.
●
India has always been a leading partner in
educational support and capacity building process.
Concerns
for India:
●
India’s energy security still relied upon
the Arab Nations.
●
India should consider its relations with
Saudi Arabia and Iran before going for closer ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia
has not yet recognised Israel as a country and Iran supports the Palestinian
cause. Any direct stake in Israel would affect our relationship with these
countries.
WAY
FORWARD:
1.
Reassert India’s role to Israel:
●
India has to make clear statements to
Israel that India will never give up its support for Palestine. Further, India
has to explain that India looks at the Israel-Palestine dispute as a dispute
between two nations. So, Israel cannot force India to end the pro-Palestine
policy.
2.
Implementing the Two-state solution:
●
Both Israel and Palestine should
immediately resume the peace talks under the guidance of the UNSC.
●
India and other nations can aid the peace
process.
●
India can help Israel and Palestine to
work on creating a sovereign Israel and Palestine. This will satisfy
long-standing India’s political commitment to Palestine.
3.
Solving the PLO problems:
●
The PLO has to understand the unity of
Hamas, Fatah in creating Palestine.
●
Recently, Hamas agreed to talks with
Fatah. The PLO has to utilise this opportunity and has to work on establishing
a sovereign Palestine.
India has so far been
successful in balancing its interests in West Asia, both bilaterally and
multilaterally. The world at large needs to come together for a peaceful
solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute.