India’s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), has reaffirmed its support for Palestine’s right to self-government, while calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in its recent resolution.
INC has drawn flak from various factions as its statement is being perceived by many, even within the party, as a condoning of the terrorist attack by Hamas.
The CWC Resolution; Calls for Dialogue
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution released on 9 October said, “The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days.”
It mentioned, “The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect.”
Further, the CWC called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues, “including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict.”
नई दिल्ली में हुई बैठक में कांग्रेस कार्य समिति (CWC) का प्रस्ताव: pic.twitter.com/NjiSkUN4B7
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 9, 2023
The resolution reiterates the balanced position Congress took on Sunday when it stressed the importance of dialogue and negotiations in ensuring that the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity are fulfilled.
While the resolution does not mention Israel, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday, “The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel.”
Congress Draws Flak
According to the Indian Express, the resolution was passed despite half of the members present demanding that the party should condemn terrorism, as the statement could be perceived wrongly.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused INC of supporting terror organisations, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accusing the party of “openly standing with violence.”
India’s Official Stand; India-Israel Historical Ties
Indian PM Narendra Modi condemned the recent “terrorist attacks” in Israel.
Many have perceived his statement as a reflection of India’s changed Israel policy. India-Israel ties have undergone tremendous change since the end of the Cold War, in the last two decades.
Despite recognising Israel in 1950, two years after its creation, India did not establish full diplomatic relations with the country.
The first Indian PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, supported the idea of a united Palestine but opposed the creation of a Jewish state.
Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023
In the initial years, India followed a “recognition-but-no-relationship” policy with Israel, while being sympathetic to the Palestinian cause by recognizing the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
India blamed Israel for the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
However, with the end of the Cold War, India’s positioning changed, and diplomatic relations were formalised in 1992.
With this, India’s military ties with Israel began, and Israel is now India’s second-largest defence partner.
Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Israel in 2017, and the two sides elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.
India seems to have de-hyphenated Israel and Palestine since then, without abandoning the Palestinian cause.
Modi has had cordial ties with his contemporary Israeli governments, and he was significantly quick in condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity with Israel. Interestingly, he also did not make a direct mention of Hamas.
In the background of India having traditionally supported the cause of Palestine for decades, INC’s assertion of its support for Palestine should not be surprising. It is merely a reiteration of the long-standing Indian position on Palestine.