Congress balancing act: Condemns ‘brutal attack’, affirms old stand on Palestine

“The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop,” Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

Historically, the Congress, when in government and in opposition, has always supported the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people even while underlining the need for better ties with Israel. In the recent past, the party has criticised the BJP Government accusing it of departing from India’s time-tested commitment to Palestine and throwing its support entirely behind Israel.

For instance, the Congress had in June 2021 said it was deeply concerned about India’s stand on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. The party had pointed out that while New Delhi’s initial statement in the UN Security Council on May 16 noted that the intrusion by Israeli forces into the Holy Al Aqsa mosque during Ramzan prayers ruptured the delicate peace in the region, its statement at the UN General Assembly four days later omitted that mention.

Meanwhile, the Left parties, CPM and CPI, asked the Government to “unequivocally uphold the two-states solution as agreed in the United Nations.” The Left in India has always been critical of Israel and a strong supporter of the Palestine cause.

In fact, the 2004 common minimum programme of the UPA Government drafted by Congress and Left leaders stresses the historical commitment of India to the Palestinian cause. “Traditional ties with West Asia will be given a fresh thrust. The UPA government reiterates India’s decades-old commitment to the cause of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own,” it said.

Condemning the attacks and counter attacks between Hamas and the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip which has claimed many lives and is poised to escalate causing more deaths and miseries, the CPM said “this confrontation must end.”

“The most right-wing Netanyahu government in Israel has been indiscriminately occupying Palestine lands and establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank. So far this year, prior to this conflict, 248 Palestinian lives have been lost including 40 children. The United Nations must ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for a Home Land, withdrawal of all Israeli illegal settlements and occupations of Palestine lands and ensure the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution for a two-nation solution. Palestine, in accordance with the UN resolution, with East Jerusalem as its capital must be implemented.”

The CPI asked “the international community, United Nations and Government of India to make efforts for the establishment of permanent peace by supporting the two-states solution…”