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Why Do Many Indians Stand With Israel in Struggle Against Hamas?
Why Do Many Indians Stand With Israel in Struggle Against Hamas?
Sputnik India
Support for Israel in India has grown since the nations established full diplomatic relations in 1992. The people-to-people ties have gained unprecedented momentum under PM Modi's leadership.
2023-10-13T14:56+0530
2023-10-13T14:56+0530
2023-10-15T16:25+0530
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The eruption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas is resonating to a considerable extent in India, much like other parts of the world.While major Indian Muslim organisations and some political parties have voiced their support for the Palestinian cause, Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as many supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have expressed “solidarity” with Israel in the face of the “terrorist” attack by Hamas.According to Indian media reports, several Indians visited temples to pray for Israel in the wake of Hamas' attack.In a telephone call between Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, the Indian leader told his Israeli counterpart that India's people stand with Israel in this difficult hour.India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sought to strike a balance between the two positions, stating that New Delhi advocates for direct talks between Israel and Palestine towards a two-state solution. At the same time, the MEA stated that the “menace of terrorism” must be fought globally in all forms and manifestations, in line with PM Modi’s message.Officially, Hamas isn’t a designated as a terrorist organisation under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).What’s Driving Closer People-to-People Ties Between India and Israel?Binay Kumar Singh, a strategic affairs expert at New Delhi-based think tank the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, told Sputnik India that there is a “deep sense” of connection between Indian and Israeli societies.Singh explained that New Delhi has consistently been expressing concerns over cross-border terrorism backed by Pakistan-based extremists, “In the same way, Israel has been viewed as a victim of terrorism by a majority of the Indian public”, the think-tanker remarked.Singh also argued that it was only a “handful of Indian Muslim organisations” that were “condoning the terrorist attack" by Hamas against Israeli civilians. On Thursday, the MEA said that support for an "independent and sovereign" Palestine continues to remain India's official position, however, New Delhi stands against terrorism in all its forms.The Congress party, which has been in power for most of India’s post-independence history, this week passed a resolution backing the Palestinian cause while not making any reference to the attack by Hamas.“The people of India stand with humanity. We condemn terrorism in all its manifestations”, stated Vinod Bansal, spokesperson for the VHP.“How could one ignore the brutality of the terrorist attack committed by Hamas?” Bansal questioned.The Hindu activist group also slammed Indian Muslim organisations as well as the Congress party for “openly siding with terrorists”.Israel is Steady Defence Partner for India: Ex-EnvoyAnil Trigunayat, former Indian envoy to Jordan, Libya, and Malta, told Sputnik India that Israel has been a “steady security and defence partner” for India since full diplomatic relations were established between the two nations.Trigunayat also reaffirmed the fact of “great admiration” among the people of the two countries for each other.The ex-diplomat stressed that both nations have established wide-ranging economic cooperation in various sectors such as agriculture, information technology (IT), and other sectors.Significantly, India has been a major defence importer of Israeli surveillance equipment, drones, and Barak surface-to-air missiles in recent years, according to data by Swedish think tank the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as cited in media.Around 42.1 percent of Israel's overall defence exports have gone to India since 2014, with Israeli defence exports to India increasing by nearly 175 percent between 2015 and 2019.“While India supports and maintains excellent relations with Palestine, New Delhi de-hyphenated its relationship with the two and they stand on their own”, the ex-envoy stated.
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Why Do Many Indians Stand With Israel in Struggle Against Hamas?
14:56 13.10.2023 (Updated: 16:25 15.10.2023) Support for Israel in India has grown since the two nations established full diplomatic relations in 1992. People-to-people ties between the countries have gained unprecedented momentum under PM Modi's leadership.
The eruption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas is resonating to a considerable extent in India, much like other parts of the world.
While major Indian Muslim organisations and some political parties have
voiced their support for the Palestinian cause, Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as many supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have expressed “solidarity” with Israel in the face of the “terrorist” attack by Hamas.
Muslims form around 15 percent of the Indian population, the biggest minority in the country, where 80 percent of the people adhere to Hinduism.
According to Indian media reports, several Indians visited temples to pray for Israel in the wake of Hamas' attack.
In a telephone call between Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, the Indian leader told his Israeli counterpart that India's people stand with Israel in this difficult hour.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sought to strike a balance between the two positions, stating that
New Delhi advocates for direct talks between Israel and Palestine towards a two-state solution. At the same time, the MEA stated that the “menace of terrorism” must be fought globally in all forms and manifestations, in line with PM Modi’s message.
Officially, Hamas isn’t a designated as a terrorist organisation under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
What’s Driving Closer People-to-People Ties Between India and Israel?
Binay Kumar Singh, a strategic affairs expert at New Delhi-based think tank the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, told Sputnik India that there is a “deep sense” of connection between Indian and Israeli societies.
“I believe that the single biggest factor driving closer people-to-people ties between India and Israel is a common feeling about being victims of terrorism perpetrated by extremist forces”, Singh said.
Singh explained that New Delhi has consistently been expressing concerns over cross-border terrorism backed by Pakistan-based extremists, “In the same way, Israel has been viewed as a victim of terrorism by a majority of the Indian public”, the think-tanker remarked.
Singh also argued that it was only a “handful of Indian Muslim organisations” that were “condoning the terrorist attack" by Hamas against Israeli civilians.
On Thursday, the MEA said that support for an "independent and sovereign" Palestine continues to remain
India's official position, however, New Delhi stands against terrorism in all its forms.
“However, I must point out that the stance of (main federal opposition) Congress party raises a lot of questions”, Singh said.
The Congress party, which has been in power for most of India’s post-independence history, this week passed a
resolution backing the Palestinian cause while not making any reference to the attack by Hamas.
Top Indian rights group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) told Sputnik India that it wasn’t really a matter of Hindus or Muslims supporting either Israel or Palestine in the current round of hostilities in and around Gaza.
“The people of India stand with humanity. We condemn terrorism in all its manifestations”, stated Vinod Bansal, spokesperson for the VHP.
“How could one ignore the brutality of the terrorist attack committed by Hamas?” Bansal questioned.
The Hindu activist group also slammed Indian Muslim organisations as well as the Congress party for “openly siding with terrorists”.
“This reaffirms their anti-India mentality”, Bansal said.
Israel is Steady Defence Partner for India: Ex-Envoy
Anil Trigunayat, former Indian envoy to Jordan, Libya, and Malta, told Sputnik India that Israel has been a “steady security and defence partner” for India since full diplomatic relations were established between the two nations.
“The two sides strategically collaborate a great deal on counter-terrorism, with terrorism being a real challenge for both the nations”, the ex-Indian diplomat stated.
Trigunayat also reaffirmed the fact of “great admiration” among the people of the two countries for each other.
The ex-diplomat stressed that both nations have established wide-ranging economic cooperation in various sectors such as agriculture, information technology (IT), and other sectors.
Significantly, India has been a major defence importer of Israeli surveillance equipment, drones, and Barak surface-to-air missiles in recent years, according to data by Swedish think tank the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as cited in media.
Around 42.1 percent of Israel's overall defence exports have gone to India since 2014, with Israeli defence exports to India increasing by nearly 175 percent between 2015 and 2019.
Trigunayat also underlined that New Delhi’s decision to “de-hyphenate” ties between Israel and Palestine have increased trust towards India in Tel Aviv.
“While India supports and maintains excellent relations with Palestine, New Delhi de-hyphenated its relationship with the two and they stand on their own”, the ex-envoy stated.
“During the Hamas attacks India condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed solidarity with people of Israel which Tel Aviv does whenever India faced similar challenges. But India also reiterated its call for peace, dialogue and realisation of a two-state solution”, noted Trigunayat.
