Pranab sets tone for India’s future relationship with Palestine

A woman soldier shouted:

Is that you again? Didn’t I kill you?

I said: You killed me…and I forgot, like you, to die.

(Mahmoud Darwish/In Jerusalem)

As the poet believes, the idea of Palestine refuses to die despite being under siege for so many years. That is why President Pranab Mukherjee’s just-concluded historic six-day visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel would not remain just a symbolic celebration of its ties even if it was a first for an Indian head of the state since its independence 68 years ago. The visit came at a time when there are doubts whether India would continue with its “unwavering” support to the Palestinian cause or would it water down its pro-Palestine policy as desired by Tel Aviv. The President did not leave anyone in doubt on where India stood with its unequivocal support to Palestine and an eagerness to have stronger relations with Israel, both independent of each other. His tour was a message to both the international community and domestic players.

Wherever he visited, be it Amman, Ramallah, Abu Dis or Jerusalem, Mukherjee made clear India’s position through reiteration of the historical positions New Delhi took at various junctures and the changes it underwent. While he reminded that India was one of the only three non-Arab countries to vote against creation of Israel, he also acknowledged the importance New Delhi attaches with Israel referring to cooperation with both countries can have in the fields of defence, agriculture, science and technology among others. Mukherjee had no doubt about India’s “unflinching commitment to sustaining and expanding relations with the Arab World” as the ties with them are “ancient and civilisational”. He said in no uncertain terms that India’s “traditional” support to the Palestinian cause remains “steadfast” while it pursues “strong relations” with Israel. India wants “sovereign, independent, viable” Palestine live side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Quartet Roadmap and relevant UN resolutions, Mukherjee said at various fora during his visit.

Mukherjee’s visit came at a critical juncture when there was thinking in the BJP-led NDA government to nuance its relationship in favour of Israel with a stand-alone visit to that country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, it was decided that the President would first visit the country. There were reports that Modi government’s proposal to the President was that he visit only Israel. Tel Aviv too wanted that. However, it is learnt that the President was not comfortable with the idea and then officials worked out the contours of a three-nation tour. Israel did hit back by initially not allowing computers for a Palestinian institute. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu too expressed his displeasure with Mukherjee on India’s stand on Palestine during their luncheon meeting on the last day of the President’s tour. When Mukherjee skipped reference to Israel-Palestine conflict in his address to the Israeli Parliament ‘Knesset’, Netanyahu did forcefully put up his country’s case against Palestine, saying it has to recognise that Israel is home to the Jews and that they have to end “terrorism” from their side. Mukherjee also did not mince words when he said the current spiral of violence should end though he did not put the blame on anyone.

India had covered a long road on its ties with Israel – from earlier passports showing that it is “valid for travel in all countries except Israel and South Africa” to inaugurating diplomatic relationship 23 years ago and having extensive cooperation in several areas. However, Mukherjee was clear about the need for reinforcing pluralism and diversity when he said religion cannot be the basis for a state. To a top Israeli Opposition leader Isaac Herzog, he said cited the example of creation of Bangladesh and the numerous “Muslim” countries in the Arab world. In a subtle way, he also had a message to the domestic audience when he said this as India is witnessing some sort of a polarisation. He was in a way telling the establishment in New Delhi that its policy towards Israel should not be based on religion. By reinforcing his belief in pluralism, the President believes, it seems, that he was speaking what any sensible person would be saying. When people forget to say the right thing, somebody has to step in.

On Palestine, he sends another message by visiting Palestine. US President Barack Obama flew in to Ramallah and spent a few hours before flying back to the safety of Israel, so did others. But Mukherjee stayed overnight in Ramallah and became the first Head of the State to do so in this troubled spot in its history. By doing so, India was sending a message to the international community that morality still has a place in international diplomacy.

With the President setting the tone, Indian diplomats believe that it would be difficult for a paradigm shift on the ties with Palestine as it could end up New Delhi losing its standing in the international community. A compromise would end up with India having egg on its face. Netanyahu is banking on his “dearest friend” Modi with whom he “speaks quite often” for this paradigm shift. Before taking the final plunge on a decisive shift, it is better Modi read what Mahatma Gandhi, whom he quotes often these days, wrote about the conflict. In 1938 Gandhi wrote in Harijan, “Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs. What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct.”

(An edited version appeared in Deccan Herald on Oct 20, 2015)