Appeasing Israel, Annoying Palestine

Amit Kumar

The war between Israel and Palestine is far from over. The recent attacks on Gaza by Israel have reiterated this. While the residents of Gaza try to recover from yet another ghastly attack and mourn the death of around 800 innocents, back in India, questions need to be raised about the role of the Indian government and the marked shift in its policies towards the troubled region.
India’s stance on the attack on Gaza was at best measured. Calling for a peaceful solution to the dispute and condemning the killing of civilians, it has stayed clear of blaming the Israeli government for the killings. Worryingly, this statement was strikingly similar to the US view., It blamed the elected government of Hamas for its actions which “forced” Israel to retaliate.
The current stand of the Indian government is a huge departure from the time when there were virtually no diplomatic ties between the two countries. It would be naïve to ignore the developments of Indo-Israel ties in the last 16 years. Analysts see this growing closeness as part of India’s larger plans of forging closer ties with the United States, which continues to be Israel’s closest ally. Israel also sees India as an important ally, given the hostility it faces in the gulf and the Arab regions. This also explains its close ties with China.
There are other reasons for this new found affinity amongst the two countries., Always a firm supporter of the Palestinian cause, thanks primarily to a shared colonial past,. India, was the first non-Arab country to recognize PLO’s authority as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” The Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was one of the most respected international leaders in the country. Moreover, the support for the Palestinian cause was an attempt by the Indian government to improve its ties with the Muslim countries of the world after partition.
There could be many reasons for the setbacks Indian efforts to support the Palestinian cause have suffered. India’s support has never translated into reciprocal support for India from the Arab countries, save Iraq in the past and Syria. Pakistan on the other hand, has utilized the Organization of Islamic countries forum to garner support on Kashmir. Moreover, the Indian government has always maintained that the beginning of its diplomatic ties with Israel should not be seen in isolation. As early as the 1970s, Egypt, by far the most powerful Arab nation, had entered into negotiations with Israel.
Apart from this, the Students Islamic Movement of India, a major supporter of the Palestinian cause, is now banned in the country, although for completely different reasons. The death of Yasser Arafat, and subsequent differences between the two major political parties, Fatah and Hamas, seem to have deterred the real cause of the Palestinian movement. Also, following the increase in militant activities in the country, India has maintained a tough attitude towards all militant organizations, Hamas included.
At the same time, India seems to be relying heavily on the Israeli government, in its attempt to fight militancy in the country,. Israel is all set to replace Russia as the largest arms supplier to India, unheard of a decade ago. The so called fight against terrorism, which seems the most powerful unifying call in the world right now, has also brought India and Israel closer.
These developments will have serious consequences. India cannot talk of support to the Palestinian cause, and yet fill the coffers of the Israeli government. Palestine, which initially had no problems with Indo-Israel relations, has now begun to take notice. In 2006, Palestinian authorities reacted strongly to the statement of its own president, Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinians had no objection to the growth of Indo-Israel ties. Palestine has always been a passionate subject for the 150-million strong Muslim community in India. The Indian government should, at its own peril, think of taking such a pro-Israel stand, and alienate the already marginalized Muslims of the country. Also, in the wake of the recent attacks on Mumbai, the right wing parties have called for attacks on the neighbouring country, similar to what Israel has done to Palestine. Such statements are made by myopic people, for very controversial, small-term gains (if any). For one thing, Pakistan is far better equipped than the rebels in Gaza and the West Bank. And more importantly, 60 years of war in the area has sown seeds for further, more damaging wars, and like a vicious circle this will continue.
Palestine is not the struggle for a territory. Nor is it a fight for the supremacy of one religion over the other. It stands for the creation of a just, fair society where the people take their own decisions. On the contrary, Israel seems to encourage the demolition of any form of dissent. Its system is a dangerous one to follow. The Indian government, to achieve small term gains, is challenging the decisions of our former policy-makers. In this case, and in the case of Sri Lanka, her blind support of the stronger, authoritarian powers can have serious consequences. India seems to be inviting the wrath of far too many people for its flawed international policies. This, coupled by the way it is handling internal security problems (the north-east insurgency, the rise of extremism, the naxalites, the Kashmir issue, and the application of draconian laws, especially on the minorities) is slowly pushing India into an abyss, coming out of which might be an impossible proposition. Condemning Israel, for its fascist activities and reverting to the idea of a free Palestine would go a long way in addressing some of the issues plaguing this country.