In a first, India takes U turn on Palestinian policy, supports Israel

UNITED NATIONS: In first at United Nations, India takes a step back from its decades-old position on the two-state theory and vote against a resolution to recognize Palestinian NGO called Shahed, signaling that India might have a new partner.

According to reports, India voted in favour of a decision introduced by Israel in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that “overwhelmingly rejected” Shahed’s request to obtain observer status at UN institutions.

Though India voted last week, it came to light on Tuesday when Maya Kadosh, deputy chief of mission at the Israeli embassy in India, had tweeted, “Thank you #India for standing with @IsraelinUN and rejecting the request of terrorist organization “Shahed” to obtain the status of an observer in #UN. Together we will continue to act against terrorist organizations that intend to harm.”

A day after, Israeli PM Netanyahu thanked PM Modi for pro-Israel vote. He tweeted: “Thank you @NarendraModi, thank you India, for your support and for standing with Israel at the UN.”

The Palestinian non-governmental organisation lost its bid to join the ECOSOC by a 28-15 tally (28 in favour and 15 against, with five abstentions).

Successive Indian governments made the country a strong ally of the Palestinian cause by opposing the Zionist state. Under PM Modi, however, India has tilted in Israel’s favour marking an unprecedented step in relations between the two countries.