India may end support to Palestine at U.N.

[The Huskar]

In what could amount to a tectonic shift in the country’s foreign policy, the Modi government is looking at altering India’s supporting vote for the Palestinian cause at the United Nations to one of abstinence.

Two sources within the government confirmed to The Hindu that the change, which will be a fundamental departure from India’s support to the cause of a Palestinian state, was under consideration.

“Like other foreign policy issues, the Modi government is looking at India’s voting record at the United Nations on the Palestinian issue,” a government source toldThe Hindu. The change only needs an administrative nod, the second source said.

Despite the growing defence and diplomatic ties with Israel, the UPA government, which junked traditional ally Iran to vote with the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2005, had baulked at making any change in India’s support to the Palestinians.

Even former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s government, which invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to India in 2003, did not amend India’s voting record at the U.N.

India’s stance at the UN has been an irritant in Indo-Israeli relations, with Tel Aviv frustrated that close bonds had not resulted in any change in the stance on Palestine.

A senior Israeli interlocutor told a visiting Indian External Affairs Minister some time ago that New Delhi treated Tel Aviv like a “mistress” – by keeping the bilateral relationship away from the public gaze. This re-examination of India’s voting stance will come as sweet music to Israeli ears just as it will raise concerns in West Asian capitals about the future course of Indian foreign policy.

@sancho @Horus @Abingdonboy @Nihonjin1051 @gslv mk3 @Koovie and others,what do you think may be the repercussions of this decision.

 

[Koovie]

In the end the only option is to have to sovereign nations: Israel and Palestine.

Anything else will never end the bloodshed in the near east.

 

[Falcon29]

Not a big deal. No one(Amongst Arabs) care what India thinks. Overwhelming majority of world still supports our right to statehood.

 

[IndoUS]

I think this maybe in result of the earlier report where a Palestinian official was raising the issue of Kashmir, there was a thread on this if I am not wrong. So most likely a tit for tat approach.

 

[The Great One]

In what could amount to a tectonic shift in the country’s foreign policy, the Modi government is looking at altering India’s supporting vote for the Palestinian cause at the United Nations to one of abstinence.

Two sources within the government confirmed to The Hindu that the change, which will be a fundamental departure from India’s support to the cause of a Palestinian state, was under consideration.

“Like other foreign policy issues, the Modi government is looking at India’s voting record at the United Nations on the Palestinian issue,” a government source toldThe Hindu. The change only needs an administrative nod, the second source said.

Despite the growing defence and diplomatic ties with Israel, the UPA government, which junked traditional ally Iran to vote with the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2005, had baulked at making any change in India’s support to the Palestinians.

Even former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s government, which invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to India in 2003, did not amend India’s voting record at the U.N.

India’s stance at the UN has been an irritant in Indo-Israeli relations, with Tel Aviv frustrated that close bonds had not resulted in any change in the stance on Palestine.

A senior Israeli interlocutor told a visiting Indian External Affairs Minister some time ago that New Delhi treated Tel Aviv like a “mistress” – by keeping the bilateral relationship away from the public gaze. This re-examination of India’s voting stance will come as sweet music to Israeli ears just as it will raise concerns in West Asian capitals about the future course of Indian foreign policy.

@sancho @Horus @Abingdonboy @Nihonjin1051 @gslv mk3 @Koovie and others,what do you think may be the repercussions of this decision.

About time. While I would personally vote for a 2-state solution and recognition to Palestine, Indian vote at the UN means little. Better to remove the useless irritant in Indo-Israeli relation as the article says.

 

[Armstrong]

Not a big deal. No one cares what India thinks. Overwhelming majority of world still supports our right to statehood.

I'm with my Israeli brethren !

 

[Falcon29]

I'm with my Israeli brethren !

Kashmir is Indian land.

 

[greatone]

If you want India's support in the UN you have to do something in return for us.

No longer should any govt. keep on supporting Palestine for the sake of earning few cheap votes from some illiterate Muslims.

 

[The Huskar]

Not a big deal. No one(Amongst Arabs) care what India thinks. Overwhelming majority of world still supports our right to statehood.

I was referring to this decision implications inside India.

 

[Armstrong]

Kashmir is Indian land.

Touche !

 

[rockstar08]

probably India now to re-examine their relationship with Israel ?

 

[asquare]

That'll be a bad decision, if it is taken (which I doubt). While national interest is paramount, morality is important and shapes how nations are perceived in the long run. By any fair yardstick, the Palestinian demand for statehood is legitimate. Also, the public opinion in many parts of the world, including Europe, is turning in favour of the Palestinians. This is a bad time to change our stance. I don't think the Israelis would be too perturbed if we continue voting the way we did.

 

[Falcon29]

That'll be a bad decision, if it is taken (which I doubt). While national interest is paramount, morality is important and shapes how nations are perceived in the long run. By any fair yardstick, the Palestinian demand for statehood is legitimate. Also, the public opinion in many parts of the world, including Europe, is turning in favour of the Palestinians. This is a bad time to change our stance. I don't think the Israelis would be too perturbed if we continue voting the way we did.

I don't understand who India is trying to get at/or appease. It's not like India has anything against the Palestinian people. And many of Israel's allies voted in favor of Palestinian statehood.

 

[sree45]

Abstaining isn't such a bad thing. Many countries do it. Relation with Israel takes precedence over Palestine.

 

[asquare]

I don't understand who India is trying to get at/or appease. It's not like India has anything against the Palestinian people. And many of Israel's allies voted in favor of Palestinian statehood.

I doubt India will end up changing the way it votes. This newspaper's sources (who knows who they are and what they really said- btw, this is a left wing paper that tends to be alarmist on these issues) might have this opinion but I can't see what purpose this will serve. It will also stir up a lot of anger in India, there is a large section, across religions, that feels very strongly about the Palestinian cause.