India’s Palestine Policy

Why in News?

India’s historical policy towards Palestine has been evolving, but a permanent fix to the Palestine question should not be lost sight of.

• Historically, India has been a firm supporter of the Palestine cause.
• And even when India’s relationship with Israel flourished in the past three decades, New Delhi has maintained a careful balance between its new partnership and historical commitment towards Palestine.
• In recent years, there have been questions on whether India is abandoning this balance and tilting towards the Jewish state in a changing West Asia, where even Arab nations have been ready to sidestep the Palestine question for better bilateral ties with Israel.

Key Highlights

• Immediately after the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, in which at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, Prime Minister said he was “deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attack”. He said, “We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”
• Modi, who became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, has a good personal chemistry with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• On October 26, barely three weeks after the Hamas attack, India abstained from a vote at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that called for an “immediate, durable and sustainable humanitarian truce” in Gaza.
  • India explained its stand by saying that there was no explicit condemnation of the October 7 “terror attack in the resolution”.
• All these factors suggested that India’s historical policy towards Palestine was undergoing a paradigm shift.

Background & Evolving Approach

After October 7

• A close analysis of India’s voting record at the UN, post-October 7, and the statements made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suggests that this position of balancing has not changed.
• It is neither a strong moral critic, like Brazil or South Africa, of the way Israel is conducting the war, nor a mute spectator or enabler of Israel, like the United States or the United Kingdom.
• A few days after Mr. Modi’s tweet declaring solidarity with Israel over the “terror attack”, the MEA stated that India backed “a sovereign, independent viable state of Palestine”. After its first abstention, there were at least four votes at the UNGA on Israel.
• On November 12, 2023, India voted in favour of a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements “in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan”.
• Two weeks later, New Delhi voted in favour of another resolution that expressed “deep concern” over Israel’s continuing occupation of Syria’s Golan Heights.
• On December 12, India supported a resolution that called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. And on December 19, it voted for the Palestinian right to self-determination.

The voting record speaks for itself. One cannot have a two-state solution if Israeli settlements continue in Palestinian territories. And the only path towards a solution is diplomacy, not war, as there is no balance of power between Israel, the mightiest military in West Asia, and the Palestinian militants.

So, in essence, if one supports the two state-solution, there should be a call for an immediate end to violence, support dialogue, condemn settlements and, in principle, back Palestinian right to self determination. This is what India has done, unlike the U.S., which claims to be supporting the two-state solution while voting against all resolutions at the UN and refusing to back the ceasefire call.

Current Policy and Diplomatic Nuances

Indian and Palestine Relations

IBSA Cooperation

• India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Fund has also financed five projects in Palestine, namely

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

• 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.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

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.

MOUs between India and Palestine

• In 1997, an MoU between India and Palestine was signed, which provides for promoting scientific, technical and industrial cooperation including provision of training facilities in specialized areas and undertaking of mutually agreed projects.
• During the visit of President Abbas to India in 2012, three MoUs were signed in the field of setting up of a Centre of Excellence in IT, Building of two schools in Palestine and providing equipment and training to Vocational Training Centers in Palestine. During the visit of President of India to Palestine in October 2015, six MOUs were signed; one between the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the remaining five MOUs were signed between Indian and Palestinian Universities.
• During the State Visit of President Abbas to India in May 2017, six MOUs were signed, namely

• During the visit of Prime Minister in February 2018, six MOUs were signed, namely

Scholarships and ITEC training for Palestinian Nationals

Implications of Israel Palestine Conflict on India

Way Forward

• Maintaining a status quo in the Israel-Palestine conflict is a challenging endeavor, and India can play a constructive role by promoting a peaceful resolution based on a two-nation theory.
• India should continue its diplomatic efforts and use its international influence to encourage both Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiating table.
• India must continue to act as a mediator and provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to address the immediate needs and alleviate suffering in conflict-affected areas.
• Encourage dialogues and exchanges between Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups, academics, and youth to promote mutual understanding and trust.