With Rajya Sabha discussing the situation in Gaza on Monday and the NDA government maintaining its position that Israel and Palestine should engage in a dialogue, the Israel embassy cancelled its Iftaar party scheduled for Thursday. Israel embassy spokesperson Ohad Horsandi told The Indian Express: “Iftaar is a joyful event, which the embassy has been celebrating for the past few years with the Muslim community in Delhi. But, given the situation back home, the timing is not ideal to have an Iftaar party. So, we have decided to defer it.” “We might have a gathering sometime next month, but a final call has to be taken,” he added. The Israel embassy in Delhi has been hosting the Iftaar pa-rty for the last three years and this is the first time they have decided not to have it. The party was first organised by former Israel ambassador Alon Ushpiz. “We have about 20 per cent Muslim population in Israel. So we celebrate Muslim festivals as much as any Jewish festival,” Horsandi said. The diplomat also said the Israel mission has been monitoring developments in Parliament. While he was careful on not commenting on the discussions in the House, he said Israel and India have both been fighting terrorism, and that is what they have been doing in Gaza. “Whether it is Hamas, or ISIS or Al Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Toiba — they have the same ideas, same purpose,” he said.
