Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether in view of the improved diplomatic relations with Israel, the Government has conceived of any strategy to play the role of an intermediary to effect a long lasting peaceful resolution to the raging conflict between Palestine and Israel and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether India has any specific agenda for upgrading its diplomatic ties with Palestine and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI M. J. AKBAR]
(a) The Government have always remained supportive of peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue. India has been unwavering in its support for the Palestinian cause. India has been actively participating in various international initiatives on Middle East Peace Process. Recently, India participated in the Second Conference on Middle East Peace Process in January 2017 in Paris. India hopes for early resumption of peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli sides to move towards finding a comprehensive resolution.
(b) Recently, India was one of the 128 countries that voted in favour of the UNGA Resolution on the status of Jerusalem on December 21, 2017. The first ever meeting of India-Palestine Joint Commission held in November in Ramallah, exchange of high level visits including the first ever visit of Prime Minister Modi to Palestine have taken India-Palestine to a new level where India continues to support Palestine in its nation building efforts in diverse fields such as human resource development, capacity building, setting up of hospitals and schools.