External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that the entire Indian leadership remained steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian cause as Palestine sought India’s participation in the West Asia peace process to help defuse crisis in the region.
Ms. Swaraj, who is on her first visit to West Asia as External Affairs Minister, reaffirmed India’s support for the Palestinian cause, emphasising that there has been “absolutely no change in its policy in this regard”.
Soon after crossing over from Israel from the Bituniya Checkpoint, Ms. Swaraj held talks with her counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki. Later, she called on President Mahmoud Abbas.
While inaugurating the India-Palestine Digital learning and Innovation centre at Al Quds University here, she outlined three core tenets of India’s approach to Palestine — solidarity with Palestinian people, support to the Palestinian cause and support to nation-building and capacity-building efforts.
“We are working for closer political interaction and deeper economic and academic engagement with Palestine,” she said. During their meeting, Mr. al-Maliki told Ms. Swaraj, “India’s wisdom and political insight can be very useful in defusing tensions in the region.”
The Palestinian Foreign Minister called India a “good friend on whom the Palestinians can rely for support in many areas“.
Describing India as “not just a friend but a brother”, Mr. Abbas applauded New Delhi’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause.
