For the first time in the United Nations’ history, Palestine submitted its draft resolution for a General Assembly vote. A significant majority of 124 countries supported the resolution, while 14 voted against it. India, along with 43 other nations, abstained from voting.
The resolution calls for Israel to immediately end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, which it deems a continuous violation of international law. The resolution demands that Israel withdraw its forces within a year. Most countries have backed a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that sets a deadline for Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory amid rising international criticism of Israel.
The resolution, passed on September 18, is not legally binding. But it includes stern rebukes of Israel and won the support of many nations in the West that have traditionally backed Israel. The resolution demands that Israel adhere to international law by withdrawing its military forces, halting all new settlement construction, removing all settlers from occupied territories, and dismantling sections of the separation barrier erected within the occupied West Bank.
India’s decision to abstain from voting broke with the rest of the BRICS group of major developing nations and all of South Asia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, a close ally. Under Modi’s leadership, which included a historic visit to Israel in 2017, ties between the two nations have significantly strengthened, as New Delhi has gradually deviated from its traditional, unwavering support for Palestine.
India has been a strong advocate for Palestinian independence. With a moral compass guided by its old relationship with British colonialism, India once empathized with Palestine’s push for sovereignty. India was among the first non-Arab countries to recognize Palestinian independence in 1988!
India, under the BJP’s leadership, has navigated international relations with a delicate touch, carefully balancing its ties with various nations. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cultivated strong relationships with countries like Israel, he has also made efforts to foster understanding with the Palestinians. However, even the most skilled diplomat may occasionally face challenges in maintaining such a delicate equilibrium.
The suffering of the Palestinian people today saddens all Muslims, particularly Arabs, and any indications that India is supporting Israel could cause diplomatic problems.
BJP’s policies towards Muslims and their alleged support for Israeli strikes are a deliberate strategy aimed at demonizing Muslims. India was once the first non-Arab country to support Palestine, but now under Modi, it appears that loyalty can be bought if the price is right, as India conveniently favors Israel.
India, once hailed as a champion of justice for the oppressed, now abstains on crucial issues, showing how its principles have become as flexible as its foreign policy under Modi’s regime. India’s abstention is not a sign of neutrality but of cowardice, afraid to upset its new best friend Israel, while pretending to still care about global justice and human rights.
Under Modi’s leadership, India has increasingly been seen as abandoning its moral compass, shifting from its historical stance of supporting oppressed nations like Palestine to siding with oppressors. India’s current position reflects a prioritization of political alliances over human rights, painting a picture of a nation more concerned with strategic gains than standing by its long-held principles of solidarity with the oppressed. How Modi’s India, once vocal about Palestinian rights, has quietly slipped into the role of Israel’s silent partner, betraying those who once looked to India for support.
India’s abstention shows it is willing to sell out its long-standing positions and integrity just to stay relevant on the international stage, aligning with Israel for political gain while abandoning the principles it once stood for. India’s abstention in the UN vote is just another sign of how easily it changes sides based on what serves its interests, not what is right or just.
