Palestine believes India to play active role in peace process over Israel conflict
East Jerusalem, February 9: While Prime Minister set to make his historic visit to Palestine as 1st ever Prime Minister of India, to which Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas with all hopes expects India to play an active role in the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
Dr Wael Albattrekhi, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Palestine Embassy in New Delhi with eagerness and enthusiasm said that “We believe and expect that India will stand with justice, right and with the resolutions of international legitimacy and international consensus regarding the Palestinian issues and the conflict between Israel and Palestine, in order to end the Israeli occupation.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Palestine on February 10, as part of his three-nation tour to the UAE and Oman.
“The Prime Minister will “touch and see on the ground” how Israel is destroying the two-state solution,” Dr Wael Albattrekhi said further.
Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas will show PM Narendra Modi how Israel is “destroying” the two-state solution in the occupied territories by constructing settlements and military checkpoints.
Albattrekhi further said that US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December will also feature in discussions between Prez Abbas and PM Modi.
The controversial announcement by the US President triggered a spate of protests across the world, also resulting in the deaths of 14 persons in Palestine, according to Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah.
“President Mahmoud will explain to PM Modi the repercussions of the illegal decision made by President Trump, which threatens the peace, security and stability of the world,” the diplomat said.
He also said that President Abbas expects the Indian leadership to play an active role in the peace process, as India enjoyed good relations with both Palestine and Israel.
“I would say that US and Israel’s relations with Palestine are a separate matter. India’s own position has been historically established in a different direction than that of the US,” said India’s former MoS External Affairs Salman Haidar.