Our Position on Palestine Independent, India Says After Trump’s Jerusalem Decision

Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that India’s position on Palestine is independent. “India’s position on Palestine is independent and consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests, and not determined by any third country,” a statement from the ministry citing spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Dec. 7. India’s statement came following U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Trump recognized the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec. 6, saying the U.S. embassy would be moved to the city from Tel Aviv. The decision, which goes against decades of U.S. policy in the region, prompted many Arab countries, even those with close American ties, to term the move as dangerous for the volatile region.

“This step represents a big bias against the historic rights of the Palestinians and a big regression in the efforts to push the peace process forward,” the Saudi Arabian government said in a statement. “It is a violation of the American neutral position towards Jerusalem.” The statement voiced the hope that the United States “will retreat from this position and accept the international will.” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim said the country won’t recognize the move, Reuters reported.

Palestinians say Washington has abandoned its role as a peace mediator in the region.

India, which has good ties with Palestine and Israel, chose to keep a distance with Trump’s move. Historically, India has been behind the Palestinian cause and has referred to East Jerusalem as its capital. India and Israel, meanwhile, have been warming toward each other with Narendra Modi becoming the first sitting Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in July this year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit India in January 2018, 15 years after former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came to the country.

During Modi’s visit to Israel, which was called historic by Netanyahu, he skipped a trip to Palestine. This is seen as a growing sign of New Delhi’s changing stance on the Israel-Palestine issue. During Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to New Delhi in May, Modi stressed on India’s support for an independent Palestinian state in a joint statement but did not mention East Jerusalem. The four-day visit in May was the third official visit to India from Abbas.

Meanwhile, Palestinian envoy to India Adnan Alihaijaa said on Dec. 7 that Modi will visit Palestine soon. Alihaijaa did not specify when the visit will take place during a panel discussion on Rajya Sabha TV.