New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised the union government for what he termed a delayed and “hypocritical” response to a United Nations statement condemning Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank.
In a post on X, Ramesh said that on Tuesday, February 17, 85 countries had issued a collective statement at the UN that was “deeply critical of Israel’s continuing unilateral actions that are displacing and dispossessing thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.”
He pointed out that India was not among the initial signatories, despite being one of the earliest countries to recognise the State of Palestine on November 18, 1988.
”It took India 24 hours to join this list of 85 countries. This is sheer hypocrisy and cynicism since the PM will be going to Israel early next week,” Ramesh wrote, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit.
He further stated that if the Prime Minister was serious about India’s longstanding support for Palestine, “he should call out his good friend Mr. Netanyahu, and publicly express India’s grave concern at what Israel is executing in the occupied West Bank,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
India has historically supported the Palestinian cause and has consistently endorsed a two-state solution based on dialogue and mutual recognition. New Delhi formally recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 and has maintained diplomatic ties and development cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.
At the same time, India’s relationship with Israel has deepened significantly over the past decade, expanding into areas such as defence, agriculture, water management, cybersecurity and innovation. High-level visits between the two countries have become more frequent, reflecting growing strategic convergence.
The UN statement issued earlier this week reportedly expressed concern over unilateral actions in the West Bank, highlighting issues of displacement and dispossession of Palestinians and calling for adherence to international law.
Ramesh’s remarks come at a time when Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Israel next week, a trip expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in strategic and economic sectors.
Political observers note that India’s foreign policy in West Asia has sought to balance close ties with Israel while reiterating support for Palestinian aspirations. The 24-hour gap before India associated itself with the UN statement has, however, triggered debate over whether New Delhi’s position is shifting or merely calibrated.
The government has not yet issued a detailed statement explaining the timing of its endorsement. As diplomatic engagements unfold, attention will likely remain on how India articulates its position on developments in the West Bank during upcoming high-level meetings.
