The Evolution of India's Position in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

This essay analyzes India's evolving foreign policy and its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the influence of different political powers, particularly the Congress and non-Congress governments. It explores India's historical support for Palestine before 1947, the role of the Gandhi family, and India's early recognition of the PLO and the state of Palestine. The essay further discusses India's material and technological support to Palestine and the development of bilateral relations with Israel, including diplomatic ties, military cooperation, and trade. It notes a shift in India's foreign policy, especially during non-Congress governments, and examines the nuances of India's reactions to Israel's actions. The essay concludes that while there has been a shift in support towards Israel, it hasn't completely diluted the relationship with Palestine, reflecting complex geopolitical considerations and evolving strategic interests. The essay also includes references to relevant sources like The Diplomat, India Today, and the Ministry of External Affairs, India.

Running head: INDIA’S STAND IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
India’s Stand In Israel-Palestine Conflict
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1INDIA’S STAND IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
There have been many controversies regarding the Indian relation with the Israel-
Palestine conflict. Different political powers ruling in India over time has influenced the political
stance regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict and has significantly shifted. Furthermore, the
political powers can be divided into two segments that are Congress and others. This is due to the
unrevealed relationship between Gandhi family and the Palestine.
India had always been in support of Palestine before its independence from British
government in 1947. The Gandhi family and congress has direct influence over the nation’s
approach in the foreign policy towards this particular conflict. India was the first UN member
that voted against the partition of Palestine in 1947 and was the first among non-Arab to identify
Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole body of authority over Palestine (indiatoday.in.
2018). In 1988, India recognized state of Palestine and opened their representative office in 1996
at Gaza, which was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003. On to it, India supported Palestinian
membership in UNESCO in 2011 and was in support of upgrading status of non-member state in
UN in 2012 (mea.gov.in. 2018). India’s support to Palestine exceeds the boundaries of politics
and incorporates material and technological support to the nation. Furthermore, Indian
government during that period extended their support in two of the major projects in the field of
higher education. The foreign policy of India in trading reflected a steady support that resulted
into steady growth. India have been exporting a number of products to Palestine like rice,
vaccine, sanitary wares, marbles and granites for the development of the country.
The current non-congress government of India has initiated the history of India-Israel
relationship in 1992. It was India’s first full diplomatic relation with Israel with bilateral
relationship that resulted into the development on multiple grounds. Israel was one of the few
countries that supported India in the Kargil War against Pakistan. Israel extended it support to

2INDIA’S STAND IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
India in 2002 by delivering hardware through planes at the time of Operation Parakram.
Moreover, a number of cooperation policies were developed during the non-congress
government on the fields of agriculture, telecommunication, commercial cooperation etc.
Additionally, India became the third largest trading partner of Israel within Asia in 2013 (idsa.in
2018). Indian president’s visit to Israel in 2015 can be considered as another milestone in
bilateral relationship with Israel (Panda 2018). However, the shift in support to Israel has not
diluted the relationship with Palestine. However, a clear change is visible in India’s reaction to
Israel’s treatment of the Palestine. UN Human Right Commission on a resolution welcoming the
report of the same commission of Inquiry in 2015 was the first, when India retained them from
voting against Israel. Significant development of cooperation between India and Israel can be
evidenced in the space research, commerce, trade, S&T etc.
The above discussion concludes that there has been significant shift in India’s foreign
policy and perception towards Israel-Palestine conflict, which shifted the support from Palestine
to the Israel regime. The recent and past development of relationship with Israel can only be
noticed during the non-congress.

3INDIA’S STAND IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
Reference
Ankit Panda, T. 2018. India's Position on Israel and Palestine: Change or No Change?. [online]
thediplomat.com. Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2015/07/indias-position-on-israel-and-
palestine-change-or-no-change/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
idsa.in. 2018. [online] Available at: https://idsa.in/issuebrief/modi-redefines-india-palestine-
policy_prkumaraswamy_180517 [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
indiatoday.in. 2018. What is India's stand on Israel and Palestine?. [online] Available at:
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indias-stand-on-israel-and-palestine-bilateral-relations-
foreign-policy-1102072-2017-12-07 [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
mea.gov.in. 2018. India – Palestine Relation [online] Available at:
https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Palestine_July_2016.pdf [Accessed 20 Jan.
2018].