New Delhi, Feb 20: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday clarified India’s decision to associate itself with a joint statement condemning Israeli expansion in the West Bank, after initially not being part of the initiative.
Responding to a question during a media briefing, the MEA spokesperson said, “you may be aware that this was not a negotiated document, as is usually the case in the UN. Our position on this issue was most recently expressed in the India-Arab League Ministerial Joint statement, which is as follows:
‘Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East, according to international law, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. They called for a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine based on 1967 borders, living side by side in peace with Israel. Both parties supported the practice of inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”
“In consonance with it, we have associated ourselves with the initiative keeping in mind the concerns addressed by the statement.” The clarification comes amid questions over India’s initial absence from the statement criticising Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and its subsequent decision to join it. India has consistently supported a negotiated two-state solution, backing the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
