India’s stance on Palestine has shifted

Source: The post India’s stance on Palestine has shifted has been created, based on the article “From solidarity to pseud, India’s shift on Palestine” published in “The Hindu” on 9th October is 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interests.

Context: The article discusses how India’s stance on Palestine has shifted. It explains that India’s focus has moved from supporting values like anti-colonialism to prioritizing economic and strategic interests, particularly aligning with Israel due to domestic and global factors.

For detailed information on India’s stand on the Israel-Palestine issue read this article here

How has India’s stance on Palestine changed?

1. Historical Context: Traditionally, India supported Palestine as part of its anti-colonial values. This support has waned post-Cold War, moving towards a more strategic partnership with Israel.
2. Influence of Hindutva: The rise of Hindutva has influenced India’s foreign policy. The BJP and Sangh Parivar view Israel as a natural ally, particularly against perceived threats from “Islamic terror.” This has led to closer ties with Israel and the marginalization of the Palestinian cause. Public support for Palestine is often portrayed negatively, and pro-Palestinian protests are sometimes treated as security threats. For example, leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi are vilified for supporting Palestine.
3. Economic Interests: Bilateral trade between India and Israel reached over $10 billion in 2022-23, focusing on defence, agriculture, and technology. This reflects a move from values-based diplomacy to practical economic cooperation.
4. Global Power Aspirations: India’s aspiration to become a global power plays a role in its shifting policies. Aligning with the U.S., Israel’s key ally, and focusing on strategic autonomy and multialignment are part of this ambition. This has led to a muted response from India regarding the conflict in Gaza, with the government focusing on strengthening ties with Israel.
5. Dehyphenation Policy: India separates its relations with Israel and Palestine, deepening ties with Israel while marginalizing Palestine. This approach reflects a transactional shift.

For detailed information on India’s de-hyphenation policy on Israel and Palestine read this article here

Is India Abandoning Its Past Ideals?

India’s past support for Palestine, rooted in anti-colonialism and non-alignment, has been replaced by a focus on power politics. Though the government still supports a two-state solution, the emphasis is on strengthening ties with Israel and advancing its own economic and strategic interests.

Question for practice:

Examine how India’s foreign policy has shifted from supporting anti-colonial values to prioritizing economic and strategic interests, particularly in its relations with Israel and Palestine.