14

Oct

Palestinian Crisis Exposes Hollowness of Modi Govt’s Foreign Policy

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Dr Satish Misra

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New Delhi | Monday | 14 October 2024

India was not among 104 countries which signed a letter condemning Israel for banning United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israeli territory. One hundred countries include those from Europe, Africa and the Global South thus New Delhi striking a radically different position on the ongoing war in West Asia. It was also a message that India does not take the institution of the UN seriously anymore.

While not appending its signature on the letter would have been understandable if the letter from 104 countries was critical of Israel with which the Modi government so strongly identifies itself the letter was circulated by Chile and supported by Brazil. Columbia, South Africa, Uganda, Indonesia, Spain and Mexico are in defence of the UN Secretary-General and the UN itself and do not either condemn or support any of the parties in the ongoing conflict that threatens peace and stability not only in the region but drives a deep wedge between countries world over.

Most of our country’s neighbours in South Asia, West Asia, South America and Africa have put their signatures on the letter. The letter clearly states that 105 signatories, which includes the African Union with 104 countries, are deeply concerned with and condemn Israel’s decision to declare the UN Secretary-General ‘persona non grata’.

Article at a Glance

India has taken a divergent stance on the ongoing conflict in West Asia by not signing a letter condemning Israel's decision to ban United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israeli territory. The letter, signed by 104 countries, including those from Europe, Africa, and the Global South, expressed deep concern over Israel's actions and reaffirmed support for the UN leadership. India's decision has raised questions about its commitment to the UN and its stance on the Palestinian cause.
The article suggests that India's position may be influenced by its growing strategic ties with Israel, which has led to a shift away from its traditional support for the Palestinian people. The author also raises concerns about the potential role of Israeli agencies in monitoring domestic political opponents and rivals in India. The article concludes by questioning whether India can still be proud of its foreign policy stance, given its current position on the conflict in West Asia.

Key Points:
India did not sign a letter condemning Israel's decision to ban UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israeli territory.
The letter was signed by 104 countries, including those from Europe, Africa, and the Global South.
India's decision has raised questions about its commitment to the UN and its stance on the Palestinian cause.
The article suggests that India's growing strategic ties with Israel may have influenced its position.
Concerns are raised about the potential role of Israeli agencies in monitoring domestic political opponents and rivals in India.

"In the Middle East, this could further delay an end to all hostilities and the establishment of a credible path towards the two-state solution, with the state of Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security, by the relevant United Nations resolutions," it said.

"We are confident of his commitment to peace and security and alignment with international law, including promoting respect for international humanitarian law and the relevant United Nations resolutions regarding the situation in the Middle East," it noted.

"We call upon all parties to avoid actions that could weaken the critical role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and, instead, to support initiatives that contribute to a peaceful and lasting solution of the crisis in the Middle East," it added.

“As member-states of the United Nations, we call for respect for the UN leadership and UN mission”, the letter said reaffirming “our full support and confidence in the Secretary-General and his work”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz on October 2 had declared Guterres "persona non grata" and barred him from entering the country. The decision followed Guterres’ demand for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

Israel accused Guterres of failing to mention Iran by name or explicitly condemn Tehran for its alleged involvement in recent rocket attacks.

Guterres condemned the escalation of violence in the Middle East and urged an immediate cease-fire but did not directly refer to Iran’s role.

“Such actions undermine the United Nations’ ability to carry out its mandate, which includes mediating conflicts and providing humanitarian support”, the letter underlined the UN’s goals and role.

India’s stand begs answers to several fundamental questions. Has the Modi government, by its stand, decided to distance itself from the UN like the US when former American President Donald Trump had begun to withdraw from many UN organisations which is tantamount to a virtual declaration that India has no faith in the UN?

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the NDA government’s zeal to develop deep strategic ties with Tel Aviv, our country has abandoned our policy towards the Palestinian cause and the struggling people of Palestine.

Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was a committed supporter of the Palestinian people who had been uprooted from their land by the British. Gandhi had justified even an armed action to restore the right to their land to the original people of that mass of land on which Israel had been established.

Is the fundamental shift from India’s much hailed because of the role played by the Israeli agency's deep nexus with the country’s “Deep state” to which RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has hinted at?

Is it because of the much-suspected and oft-speculated role of Israeli agencies to keep a vigil on domestic political opponents and rivals?

Answers to the above questions are not easy to find out as records of the present day will be open for research after considerable time has lapsed. Any inquiry or probe further would invite the State’s wrath on those who dare to proceed in that direction. Persons, outfits or social-political organisations would be labelled as anti-national and may invited charges of treason.

Having raised the issue, I can only quote a fellow journalist who observed in our WhatsApp group:  India stood tall as a defender of the oppressed and struggling people across the world who were trying to throw off the colonial yoke from their heads and gain freedom but now can we as people feel proud of today’s position in country’s foreign policy?, a veteran journalist Neena Vyas asks and states “Our heads hand in shame as the government cosies up to genocidal sadist psychopaths”.

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