New Delhi: India has once again reiterated its stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict emphasising on the two-state solution with an independent and sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha during question hour on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “We support the two-state solution and we have been public and unambiguous about that and I think there should be no confusion regarding the two-state solution.”
‘India voted in favour of 10 Palestine resolution in UN’
On Wednesday, India backed a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. S Jaishankar also clarified that India cannot support a resolution in UN which does not talk about hostages and terrorism. The External Affairs Minister also maintained that 13 resolutions were brought to United Nations General Assembly regarding Palestine in which India voted in favour of 10 and abstained from three.
“Resolution which does not reflect the entirety of the situation is not a balanced resolution and a country like India which is itself a victim of terrorism, if we countenance the fact that terrorism is underplayed and ignored it is not in our interest to do so. So, when we look at any resolution, we look at the wording and take a mature decision,” the external affairs minister said.
‘India condemns terrorism and hostage taking’
S Jaishankar added, “And I want to say as a matter of principal, we condemn terrorism and hostage taking. We do believe that countries have a right to respond to such situations, but countries should be mindful of civilian casualties, and they make observe humanitarian law and we would like to have a ceasefire, an early one. And our position is very clear. But we would like it this duly reflected in well worded resolutions.”
S Jaishankar also clarified on the support to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA).
“Regarding our support and contribution to the UNRWA. This is a decision we took as a government; we continue to standby that decision. And we have in fact just released the latest tranche of support to the UNRWA. So, I hope the members are reassured on that issue,” the MEA stressed.
