PALESTINE AND INDIA

A TIME TO RE-THINK, & RE-ORIENT OUR POLICY

©SARASIJ MAJUMDER

WHAT INDIA DID, AND DOES:

In 1974, India became the first Non-Arab State to recognize Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognize the Palestinian State. In 1996, India opened its Representative Office in Gaza, which was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003.

India co-sponsored the draft resolution on “the right of Palestinians to self-determination” during the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and voted in favor of it.

In 2011, India voted in favor of Palestine becoming a full member of the UNESCO. India co-sponsored and voted in favor of the UNGA Resolution on November 29, 2012 that enabled Palestine to become a ‘non-member Observer state’ at the UN without voting rights. India supported the Bandung Declaration on Palestine at the Asian African Commemorative Conference in April 2015 as well as supported the installation of the Palestinian flag at UN's premises in September 2015.

The first ever Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between India and Palestine was held in Ramallah in November 2016. The JCM was co-chaired by Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs and Dr. Riad Malki, Foreign Minister of Palestine.

Apart from the strong political support to the Palestinian cause at bilateral and international levels, India has extended various forms of economic assistance to the Palestinian people.

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 Centre in Gaza and Rehabilitation Centre for People with Mental Disabilities in Nablus.

At the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the UNRWA held in Rome in March 2018, India announced the enhancement of annual contribution to the UNRWA from US$ 1.25 million to US$ 5 million from 2018-19.

ICCR: India offers 50 ICCR scholarships for Palestinian students annually for higher studies in Graduate, Post-Graduate and Ph.D. courses in India.

ITEC: 150 slots are offered to Palestine annually under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) for training courses in India aimed at capacity building and skill enhancement. More than 1000 Palestinian nationals have availed ITEC training in India.

INDIA CONTRIBUTES USD 5.0 MM /year to UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) SINCE 2018.

 

WHAT INDIA GET IN RETURN:

On 12 June, 2022, Radical Palestinian Islamic preacher Nidhal Siam, speaking at a gathering, referred to Hindus as “filthy cow worshipers,” and exhorted Pakistani Muslims to attack Indians on the border. Siam said during a gathering at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Palestine that the only response to the “Cow-Worshiping” Hindus against the Prophet Muhammad is to declare Jihad to destroy them.

The Palestinian preacher said, “Hindus, you filthy Hindus, Muhammad is the master of all people.” He further says, “The infidels take turns in waging this war against Muslims. First, it was America with its aggression then along came Sweden with its Kidnapping of Muslim Children. France and Russia also attacked Muslims many times, then there is China with its crimes, and now the Hindu cow-worshipers, who have destroyed mosques, killed Muslims and destroyed their villages, now they slander the Master of Mankind, PBUH.”

Openly asking for Jihad against the Hindus, the preacher said, “The one and only reaction to such a thing is to declare Jihad for the sake of Allah and to open up battle fronts for fighting.”

Also, he pulled in Pakistan and urged the Muslims of Pakistan to fight with India. He said, “As for you the people of Pakistan, you have a greater duty than others in fighting the Hindus. They are right there on your border occupying parts of your land and killing your people.”

Many such mentally deranged Moulavi is in Palestine, who are hurting the case of The State. Palestine must control them.

PALESTINE is a yet to be approved ISLAMIC STATE, controlled by various factions of TERROR ORGANIZATIONS, and Radical Mullas, HAMAS being the largest one.

HAMAS can’t survive without support of PALESTINIANS. And other Muslim Countries like IRAN, QATER etc. dictates the policy of Palestine. Palestine is worse than PAKISTAN. HAMAS is only other face of PALESTINE.

GOI SHALL ADVISE PALESTINE PRESIDENT Mr. MAHMOUD ABBAS THAT ANTI-INDIAN PROPAGANDAS ARE NOT GENERATED FROM THERE

REFERENCES: -

1.0 India-Palestine Bilateral Relations by MEA

2.0 The Indian Journal of Political Science-Vol. 74, No. 1 (January - March, 2013), pp. 159-172

3.0 The lecture of Islamic preacher Nidhal Siam I available in internet.

NOTE: -- The opinion is of the BLOGGER. Only the relevant data, and information are collected.